
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, 

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Shelf J3..?-f* 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



HOPE 



FOR THE VICTIMS OF ALCOHOL, 

OPIUM. MORPHINE, COCAINE, AND OTHER VICES. 



A NARRATION OF 

SUCCESSFUL EFFDRTS 

DURING 

TEN YEARS OF PERSONAL LABOR, 

DEVOTED AS CHRIS l'S INSTRUMENT 

TO REDEEM THE SLAVES OF SI CH HABITS, 

IN THE 

fl NEW YORK CHRISTIAN HOME 

• FOR 

1 N T E MPER A T E M E N . 

(With Opinions on Moderate Drinking, High License, the Rum Traffic, etci 



CHARLES A. BUNTING. 

With full page Photo-engravings of the late W. E. Dodge : of J . L. Pulis. Assistant : of the 
Author: of the old Home and of the New Home. 



NEW YORK 
CHRISTIAN HOME BUILDINt^ 
1175 Madison Ave., 
1888 







COPYRIGHT, 

1888. 

By Charles A. Bunting. 



PRINTED BY 

PUSEY & Co. 

1398 Broadway, 
New York. 



TO HER- 

IN WHOM I REALIZE THAT 

" WHOSO FINDETH A WIFE FINDETH A GOOD THING, 
AND OBTAINETH FAVOUR OF THE LORD :" 

TD THE HELPMATE 

WHO HAS SORROWED IN MY GRIEFS AND REJOICED IN MY JOYS. 

TO MY WIFE 

"WHO HAS BORNE MANY A CROSS THAT I MIGHT WEAR A CROWN, ~ 
AND OF WHOM I CAN BEAR TESTIMONY THAT 

"HER PRICE IS FAR ABOVE RUBIES.", 

THE FOLLOWING PAGES ARE DEDICATED. 




WM. E. DODGE. 



PREFACE. 



The object of this little work is self-explanatory, and I have no reason 
to apologize for presenting it to those who are necessarily interested on 
either side of the great standard upon whose pure folds is emblazoned the 
simple but significant legend — " Total Abstinence." I cannot offer apology 
to those who are either actively engaged in the service of the Demon of 
Drunkenness, or else look supinely on while they every day see their 
brothers brought to the pit of mental, moral, physical and spiritual 
destruction. To either of these classes my feeble words but witness 
against their sins of commission and omission, without moving their souls 
to abandon the banner of Satan and put on the armor of Christ. Xor 
have I apology to offer those who are, and have been, engaged in the 
glorious crusade of Gospel Temperance. They realize the evils which 
beset us on every hand and recognize the value of every blow struck at 
the degrading, debasing habits which becloud the nobler portion of man's 
ph\^ical existence, and change the bodies, made to be temples of the Holy 
Ghost, into cesspools of filth and iniquity. Hence with all of its short- 
comings, I send this volume forth, bespeaking for it solely the calm con- 
sideration of thoughtful, earnest men and women. 

Without undue presumption on the one hand, while avoiding mistaken 
modesty on the other, I can fairly claim that in dealing with this question 
I know whereof I speak. An experience of over ten years' duration justi- 
fies me in believing that in all which is connected with the great work of 
reforming the intemperate or of combating the agencies employed by the 
Arch-enemy of Christ to lure the unsuspecting and unfortunate into the 
byways of sin, I have no uncertain and, assuredly, no unascertained place. 
Palter with drunkenness as you may, tinker with the license system as you 
will, yet certain as that God lives, that heaven and earth shall pass away, 



but that His word shall abide forever, so it is that apart from the following 
of Christ Jesus, there is neither prevention nor cure for the sin of intem- 
perance. 

I commend the facts detailed in these pages to the Christian philan- 
thropist, the Christian teacher, the Christian lawmaker. In all kindness 
they are also commended to the attention of those about to start on the 
path of life, hoping that this cry of warning may not fall on wholly 
unheeding ears, and especially are they narrated for the sake of those who 
have fallen, who have gone astray, who are among the lost sheep whom it 
is the delight of Jesus to seek and to save. 

I would here, before finally committing these pages to my considerate 
readers, acknowiedge the practical assistance rendered me in their prepa- 
ration by my dear young friend, Mr. Thomas H. Kilduff, and that he may 
ever feel the blessed peace of the righteous disciple is my grateful prayer. 

And now, rendering all glory to God, I invoke a blessing on all who 
labor in this holy work, confident that as His providence reacheth from 
end to end, disposing of all things sweetly, so will he give plentiful increase 
to the seed which has been planted in His name and sprinkled with the 
blood of His beloved Son. 

CHARLES A. BUNTING. 

New York, June 7, 1887. 



TEN YEARS' WORK IN THE 

NEW YORK 

CHRISTIAN HOME. 



ORIGIN OF THE WORK 



At the earnest request of my many friends and those interested in the 
great work of saving the drunkard, I herein give a brief history of the 
origin and work of The New York Christian Home for Intemperate Men. 

To God I feel grateful for the grace which has enabled me to meet 
and overcome the obstacles that presented themselves in this untried and, 
to many, doubtful undertaking. 

It is pleasurable to make record of how Christ has again shown that 
our extremity is His opportunity, and to present to you the facts and 
figures of that which has been, through His aid, a decade of years of bless- 
ing and success. 

In the month of February, 1876, my attention was directed in a most 
peculiar manner to my own life. Reared as I was under the most advan- 
tageous circumstances for entering a Christian life in my youth, the great 
and most important of all things, the salvation of my soul, was neglected. 
But during a series of meetings held in this city in the winter and spring 
of T876, under the evangelist, Mr. D. L. Moody, I sought and found rest 
by believing on Jesus as my Saviour, and in the Fall of that year I became 
a member of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Rev. Stephen H. Tyng, 
Jr., D.D., rector. 

During the Fall and Winter of 1876 and 1877 a series of revival meet- 
ings was held in our church and I became very active in them. As an 
outgrowth of these meetings a noon-day prayer-meeting was held daily in 



8 ORIGIN OF THE WORK. 

the basement of the church ; also a Gospel temperance service every 
Sunday afternoon in the chapel of the church, both of which were under 
my special management. 

At the close of these Sunday afternoon meetings a supper was pro- 
vided under the supervision of the assistant, Rev. Wm. Humpstone, 
for the unfortunates who had gathered in the chapel. The plan proved 
so successful as to the number present at this temperance service that 
before the close of the winter we had an average attendance at these sup- 
pers of over five hundred men. At these meetings and suppers I was 
constantly brought in contact with great numbers of helpless and appar- 
ently hopeless inebriates, men who had fallen so low that they had lost 
situation and friends, reputation and character; and yet in many instances I 
became convinced that if there was some place of refuge where they could 
be temporarily cared for and kept from the corrupt surroundings of the 
cheap lodging houses, station houses, etc., some at least of the many who 
professed a willingness to begin a new life could be saved. This thought 
led to many interviews with my pastor, Rev. Dr. Stephen PI. Tyng, Jr., as 
to the advisability of opening a temporary home and refuge for the resto- 
ration of these men. Many plans were suggested, among which was one 
to lease a loft, fit it up with temporary bunks, and provide not only 
lodgings but a breakfast, say of coffee and rolls, the place to be in charge 
of some person capable of handling such a class of men. While this plan 
was being agitated I was not idle, but wrote many letters to the benevo- 
lent people of this city seeking encouragement and aid for the support of 
such a place and the maintenance of a suitable person to conduct it. 

Early in February, 1877, nothing definite having been decided on up 
to that time, my mind became more impressed than ever with the import- 
ance of establishing this work, but as my former efforts had been of no 
avail I was at a loss to know how best to proceed. 

Believing as I did that all reliance for success in the recovery of lost 
men should be based upon the application of the gospel of Christ, I again 
appealed to God for guidance and again made the whole matter a subject 
of special prayer. 

It was then for the first time I became impressed that I myself might 



GOD SENDS WM. E. DODGE. B 

be the man that God purposed to use in this work. On the sixth day of 
May, t 87 7, I asked God in prayer to direct me at once as to my duty in 
the work which I so forcibly felt was laid upon me, and I shall never for- 
get how soon my prayer was answered, for in the words of Isaiah I could 
exclaim — " And it shall come to pass, that before they call I will answer. 
And while they are yet speaking I will hear." As I arose from my knees 
the door-bell rang. It was our late worthy President, the Hon. William 
E. Dodge, who had called to see me to ascertain whether there was any 
place in the city where a man, sick and tired of a life of sin and broken 
down by his intemperate habits, might find a resting place and be shut off 
for a time from his old customs and associations. I quickly communicated 
to Mr. Dodge the thoughts that were then upon my mind, and told him 
how desirous I was to be led by the spirit oi God in this great undertak- 
ing and how I had been asking to be directed in the matter by Him. As 
soon as I had finished this conversation Mr. Dodge assured me that it was 
truly the spirit of Christ that had prompted me and that I should have his 
prayers and help in the work ; and although I was at this time under 
several business contracts, the relinquishing of which would result in con- 
siderable pecuniary loss to me, I decided at once to give up everything 
and to devote my life to this work in which the Lord had undoubtedly 
called me. 

On the following day, May 7th, I called on Mr. R. R. McBurney, the 
Secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association, to submit my plan to 
him. He thought at first, among other objections, that it was too late in 
the season to think of starting such a work, as many among those to 
whom we would have to look for support would soon leave the city for 
country homes : but when I showed him the prospectus that I had drawn 
up and which Messrs. Wm. E. Dodge and John B. Gough had endorsed 
and agreed to support, he said " Go on." The following is the prospectus 
I submitted to Mr. McBurney : 

'• It is proposed to open a temporary home and refuge for the lescoration 
of men who have fallen victims to strong drink. A suitable house will be selected 
and conducted under the charge of C. A. Bunting. A limited number of those 
needing Christian help will be admitted. The administration of the Home will be 



10 ORIGIN OF THE WORK. 

domestic. All reliance for success in the recovery of lost men will be based upon 
the application of the Gospel of Christ and the restraints of Christian example 
and fellowship. 

The Home will be administered by a Board of Managers representing the 
different denominations of the church. 

Its projector is authorized to say that his efforts have our cordial commenda- 
tion and support. 

' ; Signed : 

-William E. Dodge, 
" John B. Gough." 

The next day I received the following letter : 

Young Men's Christian Association of the City of New York, ) 
Twenty-third Street and Fourth Avenue. ) 

My Dear Mr. Bunting, — I have had a talk with one of the best men in town 
about your matter this evening. He is deeply interested. Come and see me 
before 10 to-morrow if convenient. I am yours, 

R. R. McBurney. 
8th May, '77. 

OUR FIRST MEETING. 

On my calling upon Mr. McBurney he gave me a letter of introduction 
to Mr. William T. Booth, the gentleman he referred to in his communica- 
tion, and that evening or the evening following I had an interview 
with Mr. Booth in which it was agreed to call a meeting at the rooms of 
the Young Men's Christian Association of persons likely to be interested 
in the matter. The first meeting held to take into consideration the car- 
rying out of my plans was convened in the parlors of the Y. M. C. A. on 
Friday evening May 18, 1877. 

There were present in that meeting the following gentlemen : Messrs. 
Caleb B. Knevals, Rev. D. Stuart Dodge, Wm. T. Booth, R. R. McBur- 
ney, Arthur W. Parsons, and myself. 

On motion of Mr. McBurney, Mr. W. T. Booth was called to the chair, 
and Mr. Arthur W. Parsons was appointed Secretary. After prayer by Rev. 
Mr. Dodge, the Chairman stated the cause for calling the meeting. I was 
then invited to give in full my ideas on the need of a home for the intem- 
perate, with my plans for conducting such a work, and when I had fully 
unfolded my scheme it received the hearty approval of those present. At 



OUR FIRST MEETING. 11 

once Mr. Knevals urged the advisability of the immediate establishment 
of such an institution, the want of which had never occurred to him before. 
Rev. D. Stuart Dodge offered the following preamble and resolutions, 
which were seconded by Mr. McBurney and passed unanimously : 

WJiereas. Large numbers of men desiring to be delivered from intemperate 
habits are continually met in religious meetings or are brought to the attention of 
those engaged in religions work : and. 

Whereas, It is our conviction that instead of treating this class chiefly as dis- 
eased and needing medical care or requiring forced restraint they should be led 
to look to God above for aid and to feel that no true or permanent change of life 
can be hoped for except in a change of heart, in strength derived from distinctly 
Christian principles : and. 

Whereas, There exists no Christian institution where such persons can tem- 
porarily receive the peculiar sympathy and experienced aid their circumstances 
demand and be brought under direct religious influences, therefore 

Resolved, That steps he taken to secure for this purpose a house suitably 
located at a moderate rent and to be conducted with the strictest economy, and 
that for the organization and control of the same the following gentlemen be 
named to constitute the Board of Managers : William T. Booth. J. Noble Stearns, 
Samuel C. Burdiek, John 8. Bussing. Edmund Penfold, Arthur W. Parsons. 
Caleb B. Knevals. J. M. Cornell. James Talcott. Charles A. Bunting, and D. Stuart 
Dodge. 

Tdiese gentlemen were elected. 

Another meeting was held May 22, 1877. Reports were made, and after 
discussing many plans for raising means to defray the necessary expenses 
until a public meeting could be held after the summer months, it was 

Resolved. That Mr. Dodge. Mr. McBurney. and Mr. Parsons be appointed a 
committee with power to draw up an appeal to the public, and that this appeal be 
sent for signatures to the gentlemen proposed as Board of Managers. That this 
appeal be published in the daily and religious papers of this City after being 
signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the meeting, of which the following is 
a copy : 

A PRACTICAL WORK. 

Efforts to restore the intemperate show that numbers of hopeful cases are 
continually lost from want of a suitable place in this city where men. sincerely 
anxious to reform, can find the encouragements and restraints needed in their first 
struggles to resist a depraved appetite and overcome the effects of entire cessation 
from the use of stimulants. 



12 ORIGIN OF THE WORK. 

It is now proposed to provide a house where such persons can find a tempo- 
rary refuge, and where especially they may be brought under direct religious 
influences. 

All able to pay will be exj^ected to meet their own expenses, but none who 
give evidence of an honest desire to be reclaimed will, if possible, be excluded. 
In the management of the house regard will be had for the strictest economy and 
oversight. An earnest appeal is made for the funds to enable the committee to 
assume the responsibility of renting a building and meeting necessary expenses. 

Contributions or applications for admission may be sent to any one of the 
undersigned. 

William T. Booth, Chairman. Arthur W. Parsons, Secretary, 

Samuel C. Burdick, Edmund Penfold. James Talcott, 

John N. Stearns. Caleb B. Knevals, J. Milton Cornell, 

D. Stuart Dodge. Willard Parker, M.D., Charles A. Bunting. 

securing a location. 

On the 31st of May, 1877, another meeting was held, at which were 
present Messrs. Burdick, Talcott, Knevals, Penfold, D. Stuart Dodge, 
Parsons, Bunting, Bussing, and Stearns. Mr. Knevals being called to the 
chair, requested Mr. Dodge to open the meeting with prayer. Mr. Bur- 
dick moved that hereafter all the meetings of this committee be opened with 
prayer, which was duly seconded and carried. On motion of Mr. Burdick 
it was resolved that the Chairman appoint two sub-committees of three 
each, the first to report a plan for permanent organization if such were 
deemed desirable, the second to look into the cost and location of a proper 
building, and also the cost of continuing the work six months from June 
1st. The Chairman appointed as the first of the sub-committees, Messrs. 
Booth, Burdick, and Penfold, as the second Messrs. Dodge, Parsons, and 
Bunting.- 

In conversation with Dr. Tyng about this time he kindly offered to 
give me a letter to a friend of his who was desirous of disposing of the 
lease of a house, and upon making an examination it proved to be exactly 
what I wanted and adapted in every particular to the needs of the work. I 
at once secured the refusal of it, as well as of the carpets, gas fixtures, etc., 
which were at that time in it. 

At a subsequent meeting held June 4th, Mr. Dodge for his committee, 
reported that the probable expenses for running the Home for one year 



THE HOME OPENED. 13 

with thirty members, including furnishing of the same would be about 
$7,000. Ivir. Burdick for committee on organization, reported as follows: 
" Your committee recommend that for the present the efforts to establish 
a Home, etc., be conducted under the charge of a general committee con- 
sisting of twelve members, including Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer," 
which was adopted. 

On motion of Mr. Knevals, William T. Booth was elected permanent 
Chairman, James Talcott, Treasurer, and Arthur W. Parsons, Secretary. At 
this meeting a house committee was appointed and authorized to hire the 
house Xo. 48 East 78th Street, of which I had previously secured the refusal. 

THE HOME OPENED. 

This house capable of accommodating about thirty men and well adapt- 
ed for the purpose, was soon put in readiness for occupancy. Through 
the kindness of one of the committee, a son of our )ate President, 
Mr. Dodge, who was deeply interested in the movement, several of the 
rooms were furnished, the balance necessary to completely apparel the 
house being purchased, and on the 7th day of June 1877, The New York 
Christian Home for Intemperate Men, was opened. 

At an informal meeting held in August for the purpose of "Organizing 
under the General law," Mr. Parsons reported that it was possible to or- 
ganize and at once. It was thereupon voted that this same Committee be 
continued and that they take steps for immediate incorporation under 
the General law. At a meeting held October 17th, 1877, Mr. Parsons 
reported, and submitted the necessary certificate of those who were ready 
to subscribe their names as incorporators, (copy of the act of Incorpora- 
tion, and the subsequent act of Reincorporation-See supplementary matter.) 
At this meeting it was agreed upon that the number of Directors for the first 
year be thirteen, and the following gentlemen were named to constitute the 
Board of Directors: William T. Booth, Arthur W. Parsons, James Talcott, 
Caleb B. Knevals, Samuel C. Burdick, Robert R. McBurney, Edmund 
Tenfold, William E. Dodge, John Noble Stearns, Rev. I). Stuart Dodge, 
Chas. A. Bunting, Willard Parker, M. D., Washington R. Yermilye. 

The first meeting of the Board of Directors was held Oct. 19, 1877. 

Mr. Stearns moved that the permanent officers of the Society for the 



14 OBJECT AND PLAN OF WORK. 

year be a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Resident 
Director. Mr. William T. Booth was elected President, Mr. Wm. E. 
Dodge, Vice-President, Mr. Arthur W. Parsons, Secretary, Mr. James 
Talcott, Treasurer and Mr. Charles A. Bunting, Resident Director. 

A committee was appointed at this meeting to draw up the Constitution 
and By-laws by which the organization should be governed. 

Nov. ist, 1877 the By-laws and Constitution were presented and after 
reading they were adopted. (See supplementary matter.) 



OBJECT AND PLAN OF WORK. 



I will now state as briefly as possible the exact object, plan of work, etc., 
which were adopted at the outstart. 

The object of the Home was not to seek the cure of the intemperate 
by medical treatment nor was it intended to be an asylum for permanent 
residence. It was opened with the full assurance that though such men 
might be helped by mere moral or physical agencies, such agencies were 
insufficient and could not of themselves save them. We seek to impress 
upon the drunkard who comes under our care, the fact that drunkenness is a 
sin against God, to be repented of and forsaken, therefore, the Gospel Rem- 
edy is applied to the alcoholic and narcotic habits, which are regarded and 
treated purely and simply as sins. 

Any applicant however wretched or low his condition, is entitled to a 
kindly greeting and a patient hearing. If it is reasonably evident that he 
comes with an honest purpose to abandon his evil habits, he is admitted. 
Men in this plight need a retreat where they can agonize mentally and 
physically in " the valley of decision." They need repose in order to gain 
strength. They need kind and careful treatment to bear them up under 
the prostration which the demon alcohol or the fiends of opium, morphine 
or cocaine have produced. Above all they need to be cut off from the 
scenes, persons and associations of the unhappy past. The Home offers 
these aids to reformation. Whoever enters it leaves alcohol, opium and 
morphine behind, for there is no tapering off, as it is called; the severance 
is absolute, immediate and complete. 



HELPING ONE ANOTHER. 15 

Our course in this lespect has not been without criticism, and severe 
criticism at that; but the fact must never be lost sight of that it is upon 
God we rely, and that His hand is in the work can be no better illus- 
trated perhaps than by the fact that out of the hundreds of men that we 
have thus from time to time cared for, but three deaths have occurred in 
our midst. He has certainly led us on. Amidst all trials and discour- 
agements we have heard His voice saying " Fear not, for I am with thee: 
be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea I will help 
thee, yea I will uphold thee by the right hand of my righteousness." 

And the fact above referred to is perhaps made more surprising, when 
I tell you that among those received have been men who had reached a 
daily allowance of, in many instances, from ioo to 200 grains of opium 
and up to 60 grains of morphine. 

To restore the sufferer to physical health, the management confidently 
rely upon the recuperative powers of nature, aided by nutritious food, 
regular hours, open air exercise, with happy surroundings, and this confi- 
dence is based upon an observation of almost invariable successful treat- 
ment. 

In case a patient is under the influence of alcohol when he comes to 
us, especially if he need to be placed in our temporary hospital, he is 
treated with some ordinary sedative. Other medical attendance is rarely 
required. 

After two or three days, unless they be opium or morphine patients, 
they are allowed the freedom of the Home. 

Inmates who have means of their own, or friends able to help them. 
are expected to pay according to the accommodations provided; but all 
alike, rich or poor, come under the same regulation respecting recourse 
to drugs or palliatives. Abundant and nutritious food is supplied; the 
quiet and comforts of a true home are enjoyed, and the temptation or 
opportunity to drink is absolutely removed; but our constant and chief 
reliance is upon moral motives, vitalized by Christian principles. 

HELPING ONE ANOTHER. 

The Institution was established for those only who seriously desire to 
be saved and who are ready to look to God for power to overcome their 



16 OBJECT AND PLAN OF WORK. 

degrading appetite. Among the most positive and fruitful agencies in 
the Home is the influence of the members upon each other. As one after 
another gets his feet upon the Rock, he naturally and gladly turns round 
to stretch out a hand to those struggling to gain a place beside him. A 
spirit of tender sympathy and helpfulness thus pervades the entire circle, 
not only strengthening the resolutions of every new convert, but preparing 
them all for similar efforts when they have left the Home. It is gratify- 
ing to know that a large number of those who go out from this compan- 
ionship, engage at once in some form of Christian work, not as a means of 
support, but as an expression of gratitude and from a desire to lift up 
others out of the wretchedness they themselves once knew. Men who have 
been for twenty, thirty, and in some instances for over forty years, habit- 
ual spirit drinkers and inveterate smokers, are enabled after a few weeks' 
residence in the Home to "lay aside every weight and the sin which doth 
so easily beset," and relying upon God's grace, return to their usual avo- 
cations; the clergyman to his pulpit, the lawyer and physician to their prac- 
tice, and the merchant and salesman to the "receipt of customs." They 
become evangelists of temperance, and carry, each to his own circle of 
associates, the saving power of the Gospel and the good news that recov- 
ery is indeed possible. Freedom from restraint is one of the distinctive 
features of the Home, although it is one of the rules, that all inmates 
are expected to remain in the house, until the manager or his assistant, is 
satisfied that they can be allowed in safety to take their regular walk with 
the other members: and all arrangements for going out regularly, or occa- 
sionally, must be made with the Resident Manager. This freedom from 
restraint, and the sense of personal liberty, combined with the appeals 
which are constantly made to a man's own conscience, honor, self respect, 
and higher nature, are found to be better than the coercive system of bit 
and bridle. To awaken this higher nature, and to bring a man to himself, 
is the one supreme object of the Home. 

DRUNKENNESS NOT HEREDITARY. 

To palliate the drunkard's sin by acknowledging a belief in such a sin 
being hereditary (even if that be a palliation) is no kindness; it is only 
encouraging him in self-deception, which is the great obstacle to repentance 
and recovery. 



DRUNKENNESS NOT HEREDITARY. 17 

We do not believe drunkenness is inherited any more than any other 
sin or evil; therefore the inmate has his mind disabused of that idea by 
putting the responsibility where it rests, alone upon himself. Of 293 
members received in the Home for one year, 52 only were the offspring of 
intemperate parents while 197 claimed association as the cause of their 
drinking, and this law of association that had controlled in their ruin, is 
the same law that we invoke under God for their rescue. 

The cases of moral victory which have occurred in the Home seem 
almost incredible to those who have not been witnesses. An earnest and 
talented gentleman whom the opium habit had demented and rendered 
incapable of taking care of his family or of attending to the active duties 
of life, had reached the daily allowance of two hundred grains. He was 
admitted to the Home, sought refuge in the Everlasting Arms, and in a 
moment abandoned the opium wholly, and he has never touched it since. 

His last testimony here was, that he was entirely free from the habit, 
never having had a desire to touch it since he gave his heart to God. If 
the opium habit can be thus vanquished in a day by the regenerating 
power, certainly the habit of drinking can be cured in those who have 
earnest determination and seek help from God. 

No one is allowed to remain who does not, within a proper time mani- 
fest willingness to listen to such counsel and instruction. We have no- 
desire to force our religious belief upon anyone, nor do we ask .any 
to adopt a special creed or denominational system; but we do expect all 
to be present at the religious exercises, and to be honest in their efforts to- 
break away absolutely and permanently from their evil habits. This Home 
was never designed for men who want an agreeable refuge in which to re- 
cover from one debauch and prepare for another. Immediately upon 
coming to the Home, a form of questions is asked the applicant, one of 
which is particularly emphasized — " Do you earnestly desire to permanently 
reform and become a Christian man ?" 

Our work being personal, each man is taken into a room by himself, 
and there by earnest teaching and prayer we try to lead him to Christ. 
On Tuesdays we hold regular evening meetings expressly for the inmates. 



18 OBJECT AND PLAN OF WORK. 

of the Home, where those who profess to have found Christ are expected 
to testify. 

After a suitable time has elapsed if we find there is no spirit of testimony 
or change in these men, and we can have no more religious influence over 
them, they are quietly informed that their places will be filled by others 
who are desirous of becoming followers of Jesus. 

Our doors have always been open to all that are desirous of reforma- 
tion, and I do not call to mind one single instance, since the opening of 
the Home, when wet have turned away one that came to us with an honest 
purpose. 

CONDITIONS OF ADMISSION. 

The conditions on which we receive inmates are these. If a 
free bed is desired, the applicant or his friends must give satisfac- 
tory proof of his inability to remunerate the Home for his sup- 
port during his stay therein ; all others will be expected to pay for their 
board weekly and according to their ability for the room, attendance, and 
accommodations furnished them. Another little safeguard we have thought 
advisable to use is that when a person seeks admission a paper is handed 
to him to be filled up by some one that he may know, as to his being a 
suitable person for admission. It reads as follows : 

" We do hereby certify that we are personally acquainted with 

and believe him to be a fit party to be admitted to the benefits of The 
New York Christian Home for Intemperate Men." This, in many cases 
we have found to be very helpful to us, saving us frequently from imposi- 
tion by those who were just following for the loaves and fishes. We are 
in constant communication with those that are absent from the city, so that 
we are able to give a report of about all that have ever been inmates of 
the Home. 

NO NOSTRUMS ADMINISTERED. 

In concluding this section of my narration I will add that the Board 
has not espoused the cause of any mere human theory of cure, either sci- 
entific, social, or moral. As Manager I have been, therefore, freed from 
all interest in nostrums and personal hobbies. Believing, as we do, that 
the great evil against which we contend is one of the almost innumerable 
forms of depravity, we seek its seat in the mind and soul rather than in 



LOOKING TO JESUS ONLY. 10 

the body, too often more sinned against than sinning. For such moral 
depravity the Gospel is the Divine specific. 

The appliances employed in the application of this spiritual trusting 
and help are of the simplest, looking first to isolation for a little time from 
temptation, and when a condition of thorough sobriety has been secured, 
and the patient begins to find himself once more clothed and in his right 
mind (the matter of clothing frequently pertaining to the outer as well as 
the inward man), the motives to thorough and immediate reformation 
are urged upon him. 

And here it is that the victory in most cases, perhaps we should say in all, 
has been won. The motives urged are distinctively Christian. The 
renewing of the heart is sought by suitable religious instruction, and ear- 
nest prayer to God for help. Social influences, the prospect of regained 
footing in the busy world, comfortable surroundings, and a wholesome 
diet — these are matters not overlooked ; but it is due to truth to say that 
the supreme motives have been those which are urged upon all sinful men 
to repent and come to the foot of the Cross and be forgiven. The incent- 
ives of religion have ever been my strong reliance. And I might add, that 
no one responsibly connected with the Home would have its religious in- 
culcations and influences any less prominent than they have been from 
the start ; and this without implying any special theoretic accord on the 
mooted question as to the effects of conversion from vicious appetites. 

As is apparent, it is necessary that each man be taken apart 
and then shown the sinfulness of his own heart, his necessity of appeal- 
ing to God for aid and of complete reliance upon the promises found 
in His Word. This done it is easy to impress upon his mind that Christ 
is not merely a Saviour of mankind generally, but the Saviour of each 
distinct individual who receives him, remembering the words of our 
blessed Master, " Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out ;" 
believing, also, " that He is able to save to the uttermost those who come 
unto God by Him." 

In almost every instance the application for admission has been the 
voluntary choice of the sufferers. This fact secures for us as inmates men 
who are receptors of instruction and ready to yield to Christian influence. 



20 OBJECT AND PLAN OF WORK. 

It is but fitting that at this stage of the history of the Home, I speak 
of the self sacrificing and efficient gentlemen who have acted with me, 
some of them from the very commencement of the work. Mr. Booth our 
first President, filled that position from Oct. 19th, 1877 to Nov. 1st, 1880, 
(3 years) efficiently, and acceptably, when at his personal request his resig- 
nation was accepted. 

I know I but voice the feelings of every heart when I say that in Mr. 
Booth we found a most zealous supporter of the Home, always ready by 
acts of devotion, and liberal donations, to bid us God speed. I can never 
forget the many kind words of sympathy and encouragement I received 
from him during the years of his Presidency: also the many kind, cheering 
words spoken to Mrs. Bunting throughout my sickness in the early part of 
the year 1878 — called to fill as she was the trying position as the head of 
the large family. His resignation as President did not call for his with- 
drawal from the Board; and his name has been continued in our list of 
Directors from the outset, although much of the time, we have been de- 
prived of his presence by sickness or absence from the city. Upon his 
resignation the Hon. Wm. E. Dodge, was elected to fill the vacancy. 

Mr. John Noble Stearns was selected as Vice-President on the election 
of Mr. Dodge to the Presidency. Through him we came into possession 
of the valuable lots on which the Home now stands; he having purchased 
them for himself, but selling them to the Home at purchase price, when he 
could have disposed of them otherwise at a handsome profit. He acted 
also as a member of the Building Committee, and his practical know- 
ledge and experience, were of incalculable benefit to us in the erection of 
the building. From the time the Home was organized he was always a 
warm and hearty supporter of the work, giving liberally to the Building 
Fund, and contributing constantly, to meet current expenses. 

Mr. Arthur W. Parsons who had filled the position of Secretary up to 
this date, on account of protracted illness was obliged to resign, tendering 
his resignation Nov. 16th. 1880. It was with feelings of deep regret that 
we were called upon to part with this able officer, so heartily interested was 
he in all that pertained to the Home work. His loss we felt not only as a 



WORDS OF ARTHUR W. PARSONS. 21 

devout Christian, but as a clear minded and practical adviser, ever ready 
with his talents and means to further the work, and it is with great pleasure 
I give an extract from one of his reports: 

Secretary's Report for 1878-1879. 
" In considering the work of The Christian Home for Intemperate 
Men during this second year of its existence, we have again to acknowledge 
the guiding hand of Providence. When our last report was issued, much 
had transpired to establish the confidence of those who were intimately 
acquainted with the work then so recently commenced. 

"We now feel the Institution has proven its right to the support of all 
good citizens, and especially so of those who rely upon the power of the 
Divine Spirit to help them live according to the rules of Christian life and 
the dictates of an awakened conscience. 

"The incidents and revelations which are continually coming to the 
knowledge of Mr. Bunting, who is the active worker with those for whom 
this Home was established, show that the power is at hand to help and 
equal to restrain even the most degraded, when such are ready to put 
themselves within reach of the Gospel message. 

"It is when mingling their prayers with Mr. Bunting's that their hearts 
are so touched and softened that they cry for help, and acknowledge the 
only source from which they can receive assistance to restrain their evil 
appetite. As the bearer of Christ's message, Mr. Bunting's life is made 
glad in seeing so many brought to the conviction of the sinfulness of their 
lives, and on their entering the lines of Christian fellowship. 

"The magnitude of the work done in the Home can not easily be esti- 
mated. Our numbers have been large. Still experience has compelled 
our house committee to limit the number of inmates — this limitation being 
dictated by considerations of health. A much larger number would read- 
ily come to the Home did space and accommodations permit. It is with 
the hope of meeting this demand for room, that some of our friends expect 
ere long to realize their anticipations of a house built for the permanent 
use of the Home. A committee has been appointed to have charge of the 
funds for such a building, and a considerable sum has been already pledged. 



22 OBJECT AND PLAN OF WORK. 

"A reference to the figures given in the statistical statement will show 
the numbers cared for and the cost of maintenance, and will prove that 
were such Homes established in all our cities they would be worthy of 
support for the sake of municipal economy, for it must be remembered 
that sooner or later most of those who follow the drunkard's course end as- 
charges on the public purse. The economy can be understood when, as our 
tables show, sixty-five per centum of all who come to the Home become 
producers rather than consumers. Surely then may the question be asked v 
How much more worthy is such support when they become the homes of 
new men ? — men who go forth clothed with the power of the Spirit and 
protected with the armor of righteousness ? 

"The public religious meetings have been held without intermission, and 
attended by large numbers, both from within and without the Home. To< 
these meetings an invitation is extended to every one, and few who will 
attend them will fail to be convinced of the presence of God's Spirit. 

" We are thankful that means have been provided so that the perplexity 
which last year attended all the actions of the society have been lessened. 
The increase in experience by all in charge has resulted in greater economy 
in the administration of the Home's family. We feel assured that all 
contributors will be satisfied of the economy exercised within the house, if 
they will consider carefully the number provided for and the amount of 
money expended. 

" However, we would ask that this should not lessen the gifts of any. 
The manager's effort is to keep out of debt, but this can only be accom- 
plished by contributions being received promptly and in sufficient 
amount." 

Mr. Parsons died May 22, 1884, and I feel it a pleasure, as well as a 
duty, to say that as a man he was the most exemplary Christian it has ever 
been my lot to associate with in my Christian experience. 

Mr. Matthew C. D. Borden succeeded Mr. Parsons, and proved an 
earnest supporter of the Home in many ways. Since his resignation the 
office has been filled efficiently by the present Secretary, Henry C. Hough- 
ton, M.D. 





OUR FIRST HOME IN 78th ST. 



THE NEW HOME. 



At the end of the third year the wants of our increasing family demon- 
strated that our quarters were insufficient to accommodate the numbers 
daily seeking admission — for, as many as we had cared for, we were forced 
from want of room to refuse an equal number. It had made our hearts 
ache to be compelled to say to a mother, pleading for the admission of her 
son, "We have no room." The increase of the work constrained us at this 
time to lay the facts of the case before Christian people, asking for means 
with which to build a house whose capacity would meet the wants now 
made apparent. The response to our call for funds was most noble, our 
subscriptions soon warranting the purchase of a site for our new Home. 
God opened the hearts of Christian men to give generously, and about the 
ist of May, 1882, we were privileged to move into the new Home, which 
was formally opened and dedicated to God on the nth of the same month. 
The building as represented in the accompanying illustration, occupies 
one of the finest and healthiest sites in New York, with the Central Park 
^nly one block distant, and is situated on the corner of Madison Avenue 
and 86th Street, with a frontage on the avenue of 100 feet and on the 
street of 38 feet, increasing in a portion of the structure to the depth of 52 
feet. 

In the cellar will be found a large drying-room, store-room, workshop, 
barber-shop, bath and toilet-rooms, coal-bins, and engine-room. On the 
first, or basement floor, the entrance to which is on 86th Street, are a reading- 
room, sitting-room, attaches' rooms, two dining-rooms, a laundry, kitchen 
and store-room. The first story is entered from Madison Avenue. Here 
is the office, a reception-room, a library and reading-room, a waiting-room, 
and a chapel, 24 ft. 6 in. x 50 ft. On the same floor are a dining-room 
and a large sitting-room. The private entrance for the family of the 
Manager is at the northern entrance on Madison Avenue. On the 
second story, besides the Manager's apartments, are nine spacious rooms, 
study, bath-room, and closets. The third story contains seventeen large 
and airy sleeping-rooms, besides store-rooms, bath, and closets, while the 



24 



THE NEW HOME. 



fourth story, in addition to ten separate rooms, contains two hospital 
rooms and dormitory with adjuncts. The building is heated with steam, 
and is provided with an elevator. 

It is fully capable of accommodating seventy-five men, and the 
arrangements and management have been perfected after years of intelli- 
gent study by the Manager and Directors. Especial attention has been 
given to sanitary arrangements and to the rendering of the Home attract- 
ive and comfortable, in order that the resident's stay may prove agreeable 
in all respects, as well as beneficial to the body and soul. 

The new building, which is free from bond or mortgage cost $125,000 
which sum was contributed by the following friends of the work, (the 
greater portion of these subscriptions are the result of the personal solici- 
tation of Mr. Caleb B. Knevals, one of our Board of Trustees.) 



Widow's mite — First contribution toward building the new Home.* 

(Farabault, Minn.) 

Dodge, William E $12,000 00 ( Dodge, Mrs._Wm. E. 

A friend, per Caleb B. Kne- 
vals 8,000 00 

Vanderbilt, C 7,500 00 

Garrison, C. K 7,500 00 

Huntington, C. P 6,000 00 

Butterfield. Fred'k 5,300 00 

Stearns, J. Noble 5,000 00 

Vanderbilt. William H 5,000 00 

Wolfe, Miss Catherine L. . . . 5.000 00 

Stuart, Robert L 5,000 00 

Talcott, James 5,000 00 

Gould, Jay 5,000 00 

Rowland /Thomas F 4,230 00 

Estate of F. Marquand 3,000 00 

Dows. David 2,500 00 

Deane, John H 2,500 00 

Russell, Henry E 1,600 00 

Wads worth. Julius 1,250 00 

De Forest, W. H 1,100 00 

Johnson, John E 1,000 00 

Wheelock, William A 1,000 00 

Morgan, J. Pierpont 1,000 00 

McCormick, James 1,000 00 

Lanier, Charles 1,000 00 

Dodge, Norman W 1,000 00 



Gordon, S. T... 

Kennedy, John S 

Dexter, Henry 

Hays, Jacob 

Cauldwell, William A. . 

Monroe, Elbert B 

Vermilye, W. R 

Bliss, Cornelius N 

Jesup, Morris K. 

Hoyt, Alfred M 

Reynolds, C. T 

Willets, Samuel 

Waite, C. B 

Marquand, Henrv G. . . . 

Booth, William t 

Inslee, S., Jr 

Estate of F. Marquand, 

Alanson Trask 

Winslow, Edward 

Wheelock, William A. . 

Cotting, Amos 

Milliken, S. M 

Bennet, Josiah S 

Havemeyer, F. C 

Auchincloss, Hugh 



per 



$1.00 

1,000 00 
625 00 
500 00 
500 00 
500 00 
500 00 
500 00 
500 00 
500 00 
500 00 
500 00 
250 00 
250 00 
250 00 
250 00 
250 00 
250 00 

250 00 
200 00 
200 00 
200 0U 
200 00 
100 00 
100 00 
100 00 



* From one whose son, as we subsequently learned had, been rescued in the old Home. 



THE BUILDING FUND. 



25 



Sloan. Sarouel 

Tiffany, Chas. L. . . 
Graham, Malcolm. 

Babcock, S. D 

Field, Cyrus W. . . 
Stearns, Henry K. 
Swan. William H . 
Wales. Salem H . . 
Tucker. John C. . . . 
Fogg, William H. . 

Curry, John 

DeGraw, W. N. Jr. 

Dunn.W. S 

Terry. John T 

Daniel, Richard C . 
Rutzler. Enoch. . . . 
Stearns & Curtis . . . 

Belknap, R. L 

Stout, Andrew V. . 



100 00 
100 00 
100 00 
100 00 
100 00 
100 00 
100 00 
100 00 
100 00 
100 00 
100 00 
100 00 
100 00 
100 00 
100 00 
100 00 
80 00 
75 00 
50 00 



Harris. Mrs. Rebecca [London.] 

Redmond. William 

Crosby, Rev. Howard. D D. . 

Cash (J. S. &Co.) 

Goddard. C 

Mrs. B. per J. N.S 

Carruthers. George R 

Becker. Joseph F 

L. M. &Co 

J. W. S 

Haffey, John 

Isenmann. John 

D reseller & Butler 

Belden. Rev. Mr 

M. L. B 

Davis. G 

Belden, Mrs 

4i Grand Blanc " 



50 00 


25 00 


25 00 


25 00 


25 00 


20 00 


10 00 


10 00 


5 00 


5 00 


5 00 


5 00 


5 00 


5 00 


2 00 


1 00 


1 00 


1 00 



From the clay of the opening up to the present time, we have heard the 
song of the new-born soul. God did raise up earnest Christian men, and 
they, being the true stewards of their Master, were willing and glad to 
give from the bounty that God had bestowed upon them, so that, as we 
entered our new Home, we were enabled to enter a Home given to God 
and paid for by His faithful children. As God has moved at different 
times upon us by the power of the Holy Spirit, we have advanced in our 
labor of love, and under His guiding hand our work has been carried for- 
ward and we are daily made conscious that it meets with His divine appro- 
val. It was in our great weakness- that this wonderful work was launched 
upon us, but our known weakness brought needed strength from Him, and 
as the years have come and gone He has led us on. My heart is filled with 
the deepest sense of gratitude to those who have so nobly stood by this 
work from its infancy, and also with inexpressible feelings of thankfulness 
to God for raising up such and bringing them to us in our time of need. 

A SAINTED MEMORY. 

In connection with this work and its great development I find a sweet 
sense of Christian satisfaction in the testimony borne to its character by 
our late lamented and esteemed President, Win. E. Dodge. In the fourth 
annual report of this institution he said : u We have seen the most won- 



26 THE NEW HOME. 

derful results, and many of the thoroughly regenerated men who are now 
nobly filling places of trust, might to-day have been filling drunkards' 
graves but for the timely intervention of ' The Christian Home.' The 
character of our work is becoming much better known and understood. 
The facilities it offers for cure, to even men who, commanding high social 
positions, feel themselves enslaved by the curse of intemperance, and who 
realize that unless the appetite for intoxicants can be overcome, irretriev- 
able ruin is sure to come, is a marked feature of our system. Such men 
avail themselves of the influences of our Home without any of the draw- 
backs of other plans, and find nothing derogatory to their self-esteem, and 
that no stigma can be attached to their action. The testimony of many 
who have successfully sought its aid should encourage others to thus find 
relief." 

From the very initiative of our labors, Mr. Dodge proved how deeply 
he was interested in this Christian endeavor, and from his election to the 
Presidency to the last moments of his well-spent life he worked with re- 
newed zeal in this portion of the Master's vineyard. 

To his generous donations and earnest endeavors we feel to-day that 
we are greatly indebted for the building we occupy. His presence was 
always greeted with hearty welcome at our meetings and also his visits to 
the Home. From the first I can say that I felt we had in him a most 
noble Christian friend, a kind-hearted and generous supporter, so like his 
Master in all his doings. When Mr. Dodge was called from our midst we 
all felt that the Home had sustained a severe loss, not alone of a sincere 
friend but a wise and prudent counsellor. 

At one of our meetings in November, 1882 (the last one he ever 
attended in the Home), after giving an account of his own conversion, he 
further said : " I have listened to each of your testimonies, and it has been 
a source of great comfort to me. I have noticed all through the meeting 
that a feeling of gratitude fills your hearts. As you have told of the love 
of God manifested in your conversion, so also have you expressed grati- 
tude to the founders and benefactors of this Home. I for one would say 
I have been fully repaid for all that it has been my privilege to do in help- 
ing to establish and build this Home while listening to your prayers and 
testimonies this evening." 



A LIFE OF BROADCAST BLESSINGS, 2? 

At the close of this meeting Mr. Dodge, on learning of Mr. Jay Gould's 
donation of $1,000 on condition of the remaining debt of $5,000 being 
paid, said to Mr. Knevals, "I will also give you $1,000 toward this." This 
was his last contribution to the Home. 

Distinguished among New York's bright array of philanthropists was 
our late friend, Wm. E. Dodge, of whose generous, varied, and quiet 
benefactions the half has never been told. In public and private acts, his 
was the warm loving charity that did indeed bless him who gave, as well 
as him who received, that shrank from publicity, and often gave in secret, 
content to diffuse its fragrance and bestow its sweetness, without thought 
of gratitude or praise. From the founding of " The Christian Home," in 
which he was a prime mover, to his lamented death. Mr. Dodge manifested 
the deepest interest in its growth and success. 

His zeal to promote the welfare of the Home never flagged ; his con- 
tributions to its establishment and support were worthy of his great heart, 
Christian character, ample fortune, and of a great philanthropic work. To 
his personal influence in behalf of the u Home," and active interest in its 
management, is due a very large measure of its success. His earnest co- 
operation at the very inception of the enterprise, and continued sympathy 
with the Resident Manager, in his arduous and difficult position, were 
keenly appreciated and will ever be gratefully remembered. 

Words, however eloquent, can pay but a feeble tribute to the memory 
of one who scattered his blessings broadcast, to bloom forever fresh and 
sweet. When such a life goes out from us it leaves, like the setting sun, a 
great glory in the path of its departure, with this difference, that the 
glory never fades. 

At a meeting of the Board of Directors of The New York Christian Home for 
Intemperate Men. held on the 13th of February, 18S3. the following preamble and 
resolutions were unanimously adopted : 

IVhereas, It has pleased Almighty God to take from our midst our late be- 
loved Associate and esteemed President, the late Wm. E. Dodge, it is fitting and 
timely that this Board should place upon record their tribute of respect to his 
memory ; be it therefore 



28 THE NEW HOME. 

Resolved, That in the death of Wm. E. Dodge The New York Christian Home 
has lost a devoted and sincere friend, a wise and prudent counsellor, and a gener- 
ous supporter. His unblemished Christian character, his zeal in doing good, his 
sympathy with distressed humanity, his almost unbounded generosity toward his 
fellow-man, and his unvaried courtesy entitled him to our profound regard and 
esteem. 

Resolved, That we tender to the family of our deceased friend and co-worker 
our heartfelt sympathy in this hour of their affliction. 

Resolved, That these resolutions be placed upon the records, attested by the 
signature of the Vice-President. 

J. NOBLE STEAENS, Vice-President. 



At the gathering for family prayers in the chapel of the Home on the morn- 
ing of Febri ary 10th, 1883, the following preamble and resolutions with respect 
to the death of Wm. E. Dodge were offered and adopted by the resident members : 

Whereas, Since we last met for morning prayers, God in His providence has 
called from us our beloved President, friend, brother and benefactor, William 
E. Dodge, after a long and useful life. A faithful servant of his Master, he was 
always doing God's bidding, and, like his Master, his heart was always touched 
on hearing of the wants, the sorrows and the troubles of those about him. We 
must believe that his work in this life was finished, and that he has been wel- 
comed into the loving presence of his Lord. Oh, how comforting is this thought 
to his friends. " So the Lord led him, and there were no strange gods with him." 

Whereas, Feeling as we do the great and irreparable loss which all connected 
with the " Home" must ever experience, not only in the death of its benefactor, 
but in the absence of the kind and generous friend and adviser, we desire to ex- 
press, as far as possible in these few words, our deep sorrow. Therefore, be it 

Resolved, That we extend to the widow and family, in their hour of bereave- 
ment, our most heartfelt sympathy. 

Resolved, That a copy of this preamble and resolutions be sent to the family. 

On behalf of the members now residing at the " Home." 

Signed, CHAS. A. BUNTING. 



Passages of Scripture that Mr. Wm. E. Dodge would have read in the morn- 
ing and evening of the day of his death, from his selection of Scripture for every 
day in the year : 



STEADFAST AND TIRELESS WORKERS. 



29 



And I heard a - voice from heaven, 
saying unto nie, Write, Blessed are the 
dead which die in the Lord from hence- 
forth : Yea, saith the Spirit, that they 
may rest from their labors : and then* 
works do follow them. — Rev. xiv. 18. 

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do 
it with thy might; for there is no work, 
nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, 
in the grave, whither thou goest. — Eccl. 
ix. 10. 

Fori am now ready to be offered, and 
the time of my departure is at hand. I 
have fought a good fight. I have fin- 
ished my course, I have kept the faith : 
Henceforth there is laid up for me a 
crown of righteousness, which the Lord, 
the righteous Judge, shall give me at 
that day: and not to me only, but unto 
all them also that love his appearing. — 
2 Tim. iv. 6, 7, 8. 

There remaineth therefore a rest to 
the people of God. For he that is entered 
into his rest, he also hath ceased from 
his own works, as God did from his. 
Let us labor therefore to enter into that 
rest, lest any man fall after the same 



example of unbelief. — Heb. iv., 9, 10. 11, 

Thy sun shall no more go down, 
neither shall thy moon withdraw itself : 
for the Lord shall be thine everlasting 
light, and the days of thy mourning 
shall be ended. — Isaiah lx. 20. 

He will swallow up death in victory: 
and the Lord God will wipe away tears 
from off all faces; and the rebuke of his 
people shall he take away from off all 
the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it. — 
Isaiah xxv. 8. 

And I said unto him, Sir, thou know- 
est. And he said unto me. These are 
they which came out of great tribula- 
tion, and have washed their robes, and 
made them white in the blood of the 
Lamb. — Rev. vii. 14. 

They shall hunger no more, neither 
thirst any more: neither shall the sun 
light on them, nor any heat. For the 
Lamb which is in the midst of the 
throne shall feed them, and shall lead 
them unto living fountains of waters : 
and God shall wipe away all tears from 
their eves. — Rev. vii. 16, 17. 



STEADFAST AND TIRELESS WORKERS. 

Befitting as it was to place the wreath of immortelles upon the brow of 
our dear departed President, we feel it our bounden duty to thank and 
praise God for the directing power He gave us in selecting his son, Rev. 
D. Stuart Dodge, upon whom the father's mantle has fallen, and who is- 
now filling the place as the third President of the Home. From his first oc- 
cupancy of the office, Rev. Mr. Dodge has filled the position to our utmost 
anticipations. He has nobly responded to every call, and has been most 
earnest in every act of the past years of his incumbency. 

Mr. James Talcott was our Treasurer for five years, filling the office 
with marked fidelity, ever ready to help us in times when we were not 
prepared to meet our immediate indebtedness. He was a shrewd and 
calm financier, and an earnest advocate of economy in all that related to 
the expenses of the Home. Mr. Talcott's resignation as Treasurer 



30 THE NEW HCME. 

in 1881 brought to us Mr. Frederick A. Booth, a sincere and consistent 
Christian, and his labor of love we feel has been appreciated by every 
member of the Board of Directors. 

Mr. Caleb B. Knevals was one of the original founders, and has filled 
the office of Chairman of the Executive Committee continuously, besides 
acting as Trustee under the reincorporation of the society. His active 
and untiring zeal has been invaluable, not alone in securing contributions 
for the support of the Home from year to year, but to him are we largely 
indebted for the money raised to erect and complete our present edifice. 

Our freedom from debt and ability to meet our daily demands are but 
another evidence of Mr. Knevals' continued and laborious efforts. When 
I say that I deeply appreciate and honor him for his noble support and 
advice, especially in times of discouragements and perplexity, always 
ready to give words of cheer and comfort, I but feebly express the senti- 
ments of my own heart ; and we have been signally blessed in his self- 
sacrificing devotion to our Board of Directors all through these ten years, 
•deeming it a pleasure to give to this work a great deal of time in planning 
and devising the ways and means of carrying it forward. 

We feel here it is but just that special mention be made of the marked 
interest shown in this work by Alonzo S. Ball, M.D. From its inception, 
and before his name was added to our list of Directors, since then and 
•down to the present day he has been in constant attendance at our Satur- 
day evening meetings. To him we are deeply indebted for no little 
excellent counsel, and his zeal in encouraging us is a constant source of 
help and consolation. The age, experience, deep religious culture and 
character of Dr. Ball imbue his opinions with weight and meaning. As 
in the case of Dr. H. C. Houghton, who declared at one of our Saturday 
meetings that his whole Christian life, character, strength and love had 
been moulded and grounded through the influence of " the Christian Home" 
■during the seven years that he had been a regular and frequent visitor at 
the Saturday evening meetings, adding that the men before him were 
actual Christian teachers and moulders in the world, so Dr. Ball, while 
earnestly endorsing the language of Dr. Houghton, said that his faith in 
the unlimited power of God, especially His saving and keeping power 



LIST OF OFFICERS AXD DIRECTORS. 31 

had been mightily strengthened by the many years' experience which he 
had gained at the religious meetings of " the Christian Home." 

Since the election of our honored and esteemed friend, Mr. John 
Falconer, on the Board of Directors in 1881, he has been of singular util- 
ity to this institution, being one of the most valuable acquisitions made to 
our ranks of active and unselfish friends. His constant attendance and 
prayerful spirit at our public weekly meetings are sources of inspiration 
and encouragement to all. A devoted Christian, he is no less a sympa- 
thetic yet prudent adviser. His interest never flags, so filled is he with 
the feeling he so frequently expresses that the " work of The New York 
Christian Home is wonderful and above comparison with any other form 
of Christian endeavor in the same direction," and from out the abundance 
of his heart he pleads for its needier inmates among his friends, inducing 
them from time to time to send welcome contributions of money and 
equally welcome clothing, etc., for the support and use of those who so 
urgently require so full a measure of Christian liberality. For myself 
personally I feel that no words can express how gratefully I recall his 
attentions during the weary months of sickness I passed through. It was 
then that he poured the richest fruits of his soul by my bedside in prayers 
to the throne of grace for the assuagement of my pain and my recovery. 
Xew lights and freshened hopes he brought to my chastened spirit, and 
as he dealt with me in my hours of trouble so may his kindness be remem- 
bered by Him who has promised reward for even a cup of water given in 
His name. 



OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS. 



The following is a complete list of the Officers and Directors as they 
have served from year to year, many of whom, it will be noticed, have 
acted from its commencement to the present time : 

officers 1877, 1878, '79, and '80. 

Wm. T. Booth, elected President 1877, resigned 1880. Wm. E. Dodge, 
elected Vice-President 1877, elected President 1880, died February 9, 
18S3. Arthur W. Parsons, elected Secretary 1877, resigned in 1880, died 
in 1884. Tames Talcott, elected Treasurer in 1877, resigned 1S81. Charles 
A. Bunting, Resident Director, elected 1877, acting. 



32 



THE NEW HOME. 



CHANGE OF OFFICERS IN 1880. 

Wm. E. Dodge, elected President ; J. Noble Stearns, elected Vice- 
President ; M. C. D. Borden, elected Secretary. 

SUBSEQUENT CHANGES. 

Rev. D. Stuart Dodge, elected President 1883 ; Frederick A. Booth, 

elected Treasurer in 1881 ; Henry C. Houghton. M.D., elected Secretary 
1883. 

TRUSTEES. 

J. Pierpont Morgan, C. N. Bliss, C. Lanier, Bowles Colgate, G. H. An- 
drews (resigned), and Caleb B. Knevals. 

BOARD OF VISITORS. 

Rev. W. M. Taylor, D.D., Rev. R. S. Macarthur, D.D., Rev. W. F. 
Watkins, D.D., Rev. R. R. Booth, D.D., Rev. A. D. Vail, D.D. 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

From 1877 to i; 387, acting at various periods. 
William T. Booth, elected 1877, acting. I J. Edgar Johnson, elected 1878, re- 



Wm. E. Dodge, elected 1877, died Feb. 
9, 1883. 

Caleb B. Knevals, elected 1877, acting. 

Elbert B. Monroe, elected 1877, resigned 
1880. 

J. Talcott, elected 1877, resigned 1884. 

J. Milton Cornell, elected 1877, resigned 
1879. 

John N. Stearns, elected 1877, acting. 

R. R. McBurnev, elected 1877, resigned 
1886. 

Arthur W. Parsons, elected 1877, re- 
signed 1881. 

Samuel C. Burdick, elected 1877, re- 
signed 1879. 

Edmund Penf old, elected 1877, resigned 
1879. 

D. Stuart Dodge, elected 1877, acting. 

Willard Parker, M.D., elected 1877, re- 
signed 1880. 

W. R. Vermilye, elected 1877, acting. 

Ohas. A. Bunting, elected 1877, acting. 

H. Dexter, elected 1878, resigned 1887. 

N. W. Dodge, elected 1878, acting. 

A. C. Armstrong, elected 1878, acting. 

Richard A. Storrs, elected 1878, acting. 

S. Sheldon., elected 1878, resigned 1880. 



signed 1886. 

M. C. D. Borden, elected 1878, resigned 
1885. 

Francis A. Palmer, elected 1878, re- 
signed 1880. 

A. V. Stout, elected 1878, died 1883. 

B. Colgate, elected 1878, resigned 1880. 
Wm. A. Cauldwell, elected 1878, re- 
signed 1881. 

C. Vanderbilt, elected 1878, acting. 
Henry E. Russell, elected 1879, resigned 

1887. 

Thomas F. Rowland, elected 1880, re- 
signed 1887. 

W. H. Jackson, elected 1880, resigned. 

J. H. Dean, elected 1880, resigned 1882. 

John Falconer, elected 1881, acting. 

Fred'k A. Booth, elected 1881, acting. 

W. M. Isaacs, elect'd 1882. resigned 1883. 

A. S. Ball, M.D., elected 1884, acting. 

Clinton B. Fisk, elected 1884, acting. 

Dr. H. C. Houghton, elect'd 1884, act'g. 

Titus B. Meigs, elected 1885, acting. 

James H. Dunham, elected 1885, acting. 

Dr. Wm. E. Dunn, elected 1885, acting. 

James H. Seymour, elected 1887, acting. 

D. H. Bates, elected 1887, acting. 
Samuel W. Bowne, elected 1887, acting. 



FRUITS OF THE WORK. 



Immediately upon opening the Home, ten years ago, we were supplied 
with ample material to commence our work. The first who came to us 
was a business man well known in the city of New York, formerly an im- 
porter. We received him kindly and administered to his outward wants, 
clothing was furnished from head to foot and his famished body supplied 
with necessary food. Let me say that this man was soon brought to a 
knowledge of the truth as it is in Christ. 

After remaining with us a few weeks a position was secured for him, 
as manager of a concern in a neighboring state. For ten years he had 
not held a position of any kind, being constantly under the influence of 
liquor and his family was separated from him. Soon after his arrival in 
his new home he connected himself with a Christian church and is now in 
Chicago a faithful worker in the Gospel temperance cause. 

Shortly after this as I was sitting at my window looking into the street, 
saw a man dressed literally in rags. He came to the door and was ad- 
mitted. I soon learned his errand. He told me his sad story, and in 
naming over his friends he mentioned two persons whom I knew. I found 
he was a man of education and had stood high in his profession as a lawyer, 
having been a student and reader of law with Hon. Edwin M. Stanton. 
He soon gave his heart to God and is now living a devoted Christian life. 
I received a letter from him soon after his arrival home in Penn. and 
these are his words: "I have just arrived home after an absence of four 
years. I have told sister all. She is supremely happy and so am I, thank 
God and the dear Christian Home." 

CONVERTING A SCOFFER. 

Another instance. While holding a meeting on a Sunday afternoon 
in the Gospel Tent, I mentioned in the course of my remarks something in 
relation to this Home. A widowed mother came to me and related the 
sad tale in relation to her only son. She informed me as to his unbelief and 
said " I have no hopes of him." After advising her what course to pursue 
she said "I will try and get him to go to the Home." 



34 FRUITS OF THE WORK. 

A whole week passed before he came. He remained in the Home 
over a week before I could approach him in conversation. This case 
seemed to stagger me. He was a professed infidel, a scoffer, but I prayed 
to God and He answered my prayer. I felt fully assured that this man 
would be saved. For the first time I called him to my room, for the pur- 
pose of conversation and prayer. I stated to him my knowledge of his 
unbelief. I said " I know you pretend not to believe in a God, the Bible nor 
have you any confidence in the Christian religion. I want to pray with 
you and I wish to make a proposition to you. It is this, if you can bow 
with me without prejudice and with an unbiassed mind, and in a sincere 
manner say to me that if I can prove to you that there is a God in 
heaven and that the Bible is true and that this is the way of salva- 
tion, as a candid man that you are ready to accept it ? If it is not proven 
to you before you rise from your knees, that there is a God in 
heaven and that He has power on earth to forgive sins and that 
the Bible is true, then I will not speak to you again on this subject, and 
you can lay the Bible one side." He accepted the proposition and we bowed 
in prayer and while on his knees he prayed " God be merciful to me a 
sinner." From that moment he became a changed man. God heard his 
prayer. 

Another was a policeman, who for a number of years was on the 
"Broadway Squad." He like the first, came to me in a destitute and 
wretched condition, having been separated from his family for many years. 
He gave his heart to God, was united with his family and by his godly 
example and Christian life, his wife and daughter were soon led to follow. 
They united with a Methodist church in this city, the pastor of which 
told me since, that this whole family were considered a valuable acquisi- 
tion to the church. 

" THE GOSPEL TEMPERANCE SALESMAN." 

A gentleman was brought here in the summer of 1878, by his 
nephew, in a most dilapidated condition. We furnished him with 
clothing, and, as soon as practicable afterward, I entered into conver- 
sation with him. I found him to be a man of education, thoroughly 



A MARVELLOUS CONVERSION. 35 

acquainted with business life, and at one time had been at the head of a 
firm. He had been employed as a salesman in this city, but because of 
his habits was dismissed. He became a willing convert to the religion of 
Jesus Christ, and gave us unmistakable proofs of his conversion up to the 
time of his leaving the Home. He immediately obtained a position. As 
soon as he received his first month's pay, which was only $30. he came and 
paid up two week's board, and the next month paid up the balance. (I 
am happy to say that this is not an isolated case, many of those so taken 
in, returning and paying their board.) He was quickly sought after by 
business houses, from one of which he obtained a lucrative position, and 
at this date I learn from the best authority, that he is giving entire satis- 
faction as a commercial traveller. He is in regular correspondence with 
the Home, and never visits this city without coming to our meetings in 
company with his wife and giving his testimony. He is known over the 
whole route which he travels as "The Gospel Temperance Salesman." In 
his prosperity, he does not forget the Christian Home, and is most gener- 
ous in his donations, and never fails to mention his spiritual birthplace. 
As we look upon him we can say, in the language of Isaiah, " Who hath 
wrought and done it ? I the Lord, the first, and with the last ; I am he." 

A devoted Christian young lady who for many years visited Blackwell's 
Island every Tuesday, and who is a frequent visitor at our Saturday eve- 
ning meetings, came to me one day and said: " I have found a very inter- 
esting case on the Island. He is the son of a clergyman. Won't you 
take him into the Home?" He w T as received. Full of scepticism and 
unbelief he came to us. I had frequent conversations with him, and so- 
far as I could judge, all without avail. I found it was useless to exhort, 
and told him I should not again urge upon him the claims of the Gospel 
of Jesus Christ until he came to me with all sincerity of heart, feeling- 
the need of a Saviour. These must have been the words that had the de- 
sired ei.ect, although apparentlv he was determined not to 3^ield. During 
the tnree days following this interview he was constantly before me, but 
not a word did I say to him personally upon the subject. At last he said 
to me, " Have you given me up?" I recalled to his mind the last remarks 
I had made to him, when he exclaimed in great earnestness "I do feel the 



36 FRUITS OF THE WORK. 

need of Christ. Will you pray with me?" I took him to my room and 
he then and there consecrated himself to Christ. His life since that 
day has proved him to be a true follower of Jesus. He now holds a re- 
sponsible position, is an active member in the church, is engaged in mission 
work, and is loved and respected by all Christians in the city where he re- 
sides. He is a noble monument of God's power to save. Listen to a few 
words from his father: " Our family, (his brother and sisters,) are surprised 
and delighted at the marked and marvellous change which appears more 
and more clearly in each succeeding epistle that comes from their elder 
brother. His oldest sister just remarked to her mother, 'of all the wonder- 
ful things I ever heard in relation to such matters, the conversion of 

is the most wonderful' and all the rest are disposed to say Amen." 

A noble young man occupying a public position in the city was di- 
rected here by a kind Christian gentleman. You cannot conceive how 
low he had fallen. For weeks sleeping in wagons, hallways, lumber-yards, 
and parks. His scanty rags did not cover his body. He was admitted, 
and at once accepted Christ. He is a worthy Christian, and is rapidly 
gaining the respect and esteem of those who once knew him. 

REV. DR. KING SPEAKS. 

I might give many other instances, but will restrict myself to one only 
as related in one of our Saturday evening meetings by Rev. Dr. James M* 
King, of the Park Avenue M. E. Church, who commenced his remarks 
by saying that the great feature of the Home is the success of the work, 
and this fact is always observed here, that if God saves a man, that person 
knows -it, and does not need any affidavit to prove it. God tells it. He said 
that he did not know of any work in the world which is more the sole 
fruit of faith than this temperance work in the Home. It is this which 
saves men. Ever since he had been a Christian he had large sympathy 
for the drunkard, and the drunkard does not need any other pardon than 
is needed by any other sinner, and very often the man who turns away 
from the drunkard with mistrust or scorn is far more in need of a Saviour 
than the poor intemperate man. Dr. King said he knew a great many 
trophies of grace which came from this Home, but the brightest to him 



OUTSIDERS BROUGHT TO JESUS. 3? 

was the following : " Three years ago I went into a miserable home in this 
city to see a poor woman who was suffering from her husband's dissipa- 
tion. She was once beautiful, but the anxious look told plainly what she 
was suffering. Two or three little children were there, so scantily dressed 
that they could not go out of doors ; all shivering ; but that dear mother 
never complained, but worked on, and ever prayed. There was but little 
furniture in the house, and a more dreary picture I have seldom seen. 
The husband, who was a reeling drunkard in the streets of New York, was 
once as fine a fellow as you meet. He was the son of a prominent clergy- 
man of this city, but friends and kinsfolk had done all they could for the 
boy, and had almost given him up as lost. But a few of us got together, 
and resolved to make one more effort to save him, and we sent him to this 
Home ; and you all know what he learned, for you have the same teach- 
ing. 

"The other day a fine looking man called at my house, dressed well, 
fresh looking, and manly looking in his actions. He wanted to know if I 
would go over and preach at our church next Sunday. I knew him 
and asked him what he meant by k our church.' He said he 
lived in New Jersey, and was a communicant of a church there, and in 
fact was one of its trustees. I grasped him by the hand and said, God 
be praised ! It was that same poor drunkard, now a man, I w T ent, and 
found a beautiful little home without a dollar of debt on it, his dear wife 
and children as happy as they could be ; the husband back in his former 
business, and just admitted as a partner, and looked upon in that village 
church as a leader and wise counsellor. This is wmat the Home has done 
for one man, and if it has never accomplished more, those godly men and 
women who gave their money to build this place have saved a noble hu- 
man soul from eternal death. 

OUTSIDERS BROUGHT TO JESUS. 

The following are a few of the many instances of conversion of out- 
siders, not members of the Home, while attending the meetings. The 
first was the wife of one of our inmates, who was a constant attendant 
while her husband was residing here. The Holy Spirit gained admittance 



38 FRUITS OF THE WORK. 

to her heart, and here she found peace in believing on Jesus. From this 
her daughter became interested, and she too became a Christian,, and they 
were united to the Methodist Church. They are now living, active 
Christians, and their example is felt in the neighborhood where they 
reside. 

A mother was induced to bring her son to this Home, and in 
conversation with her I found that she was not a Christian. The plan 
of salvation was made known to her. She accepted Jesus as her Saviour, 
and I believe she is now a good Christian. 

One afternoon a lady called to see her husband. He was attending at 
the time one of our afternoon prayer-meetings. In my remarks to her I 
said, " Now your husband has become a Christian, I do hope you will 
encourage him by your godly life. ' She exclaimed, " Is my husband a 
Christian ? I want to be a Christian too !" As he came from the meeting 
into her presence the first question she asked was, "Are you a Christian ?' 
calling him byname. He answered that he believed he was. We all knelt 
in prayer immediately, and it was my privilege to see her rise from her 
knees a converted woman. They have walked hand in hand, in their 
Christian way, from that day to this. 

A father came here, and as he lold me about his son my heart was 
moved toward that family. That son became an inmate of this Home, 
and soon a Christian man. His father saw what a change the religion of 
Christ had wrought in his son, but although a very honest, upright man, had 
never known what the new birth meant. He gave his heart to Jesus, and 
is now a happy Christian man. The wife of the son also came to visit the 
husband, and in conversation with her I found she too had lived a 
stranger to the great truths of the Gospel of Jesus. It was my privilege 
to kneel in prayer with her and hear her confess Christ before leaving the 
room. They too are living active Christian lives. 

A wife came here to be prayed for. The plan of salvation was explained 
to her. She was ready to accept Christ and believe on His name. Her 
husband had been an inmate, and they are now going along on their new 
road heavenward. 

A fine looking gentleman called here one day to make arrangements 



A MORPHINE SLAVE REDEEMED. o!) 

for his nephew. From his appearance I judged he was a Christian man. 
I explained to him the nature of our work in detail, to which he paid 
strict attention. The next day he came with his nephew, and then we had 
another conversation. He called the third time, and in my interview with 
him he informed me that he had been so impressed in listening to me that he 
had been induced to close his bar, which he had been running upward of 
thirty years, in connection with his restaurant, located on one of our prin- 
cipal thoroughfares. I found that he was under deep conviction, and I 
wanted then to pray with him, but he declined and made an appointment 
for the next day. He kept his promise. We were together two hours or 
more, and it was my happy privilege to lead him to Christ. I see him 
frequently, and his expression always is, " This life is worth living. I am 
now a happy man." 

A man came here, sent by one of .our leading physicians. He was in 
a pitiable condition, but in earnest as to his soul's conversion. As 
soon as he became a Christian it was his great desire that his wife might 
become a Christian also. He asked prayers for her in our meeting. She 
called to see him, and I was introduced to her. In her conversation she 
said, " My mind has been so troubled for the past week that I cannot 
sleep. I do not know what is the matter with me ; but one thing I have 
made up my mind to do, and that is as soon as you come home (turning 
to her husband) to become a Christian." He said, lk We have been praying 
for you for a week," and asked me if I would then talk and pray with her. 
I did so, and it was my privilege to see her leave the room a Christian 
woman. 

At one of our late meetings a testimony like the following was 
given by a bright, intelligent man, who had prepared himself by arduous 
study to preach the Gospel of Christ. Through the advice of a physician, 
he was induced to use morphine to alleviate pain. Sufficient to say, that 
for eight long years he had been bound by his appetite for the drug, and 
was on the verge of despair when he entered the Home. Kind words and 
kind treatment won him first. He was told if he would place himself 
under our care he would be treated kindly, and that he would have to 
endure but little suffering, as it was the Great Physician to whom we 



40 FRUITS OF THE WORK. 

would apply in his behalf. He was assured that, the household would 
offer prayer for him constantly. God saved him, and now he is a bright 
and shining light. 

PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY TRANSFORMED. 

Among our achievements is the not infrequent transformation of the 
u bummer beat" into the Christian gentleman. Precautions are taken 
against impostors, men who will profess anything for the sake of shelter, 
food, and needed clothing, but some such fellows do manage to creep into 
better society than they deserve to enjoy. They are soon detected after 
admission, but their presence is ordinarily winked at as long as they 
behave themselves. Their reformation is not despaired of, and nothing is 
said or done which can inform them that their deception is seen through. 
They are treated exactly like the rest of the inmates, with the same cour- 
tesy, forbearance, and kindness, and the same reforming influences are 
brought to bear upon them. The result is, in not a few cases, that these 
" meanest of mankind " become changed characters. One's business or 
professional training modifies the views taken of any subject ; hence my 
interest in the physical as well as the spiritual features of the work. A 
moment's review brings to my mind a score of men who were physical 
wrecks, entering the Home in such conditions that an exact and complete 
statement of it would be simply revolting. These men were promptly and 
perfectly restored. Cleanliness, quiet, good nourishing food are the means 
used on entering, and in special cases minimum doses of sedative medi- 
cines are administered to control delirium ; but it must be distinctly 
understood and recognized that this is exceptional and not the object or 
method of our work. 

Alcoholic patients furnish not a few examples of those who had passed 
beyond a point where ordinary spirits had any effect, and the use of raw 
alcohol, chloroform, etc., had been resorted to. One patient, a practicing 
physician, who came to us confessed that the following drugs and stimu- 
lents had been his regular rations for months past, viz.: Nux vomica, ipecac, 
ammonium, bismuth, blue mass,calomel, camphor, triplex valerian, morphine 
. assafqetida, raw alcohol, and whiskey. This man was actually known to have 



DR. HOUGHTON S VIEWS. -1-1 

made inquiries in the drug stores as to whether anything new had been 
discovered in the way of nerve disturbers. He left this Home a reclaimed 
man, and is now much respected and in the enjoyment of his practice, 
which for the most part he has recovered. His testimonies can be fre- 
quently heard in our Saturday night meetings. 

dr. houghton's views 
Dr. Henry C. Houghton speaks on this point as follows 
" The physical restoration following upon the spiritual birth is more 
surprising, a marvel not easily solved. The reflex influence of a healthy 
mind upon a diseased body we understand : but how the physical wreck 
of alcoholism can be restored so suddenly, or how in exceptional cases 
kept from death, is not clear even after years of observation. The trans- 
formation that takes place in the bodies of these men is a greater surpr 
than the one in the spiritual nature : we expect a greater or less degree 
of functional or organic disease to follow a long history of alcoholism, but 
in the greater proportion of cases the recovery is rapid and permanent- 
In exceptional cases the reflex influence of the soul life has been the only 
reasonable explanation of the maintenance of physical existence. 

41 The character of the religious life is also exceptional. From a dc 
of sin and degradation, they advance rapidly to a degree of assurance and 
stability that is not usually noticed till one has attained to some degree of 
maturity in the Christian life. Some, it is true, relapse, but the great 
majority stand, manifesting an earnestness of purpose, a clearness of per- 
ception of divine truth, a love of God and their fellow men, that those 
who have been Christians for years may emulate. 

" Redeemed men go from the Home to work for the Master as none 
others can. Ten clergymen are now doing an effective work like Peter* 
loving more intensely, having been forgiven mu:h. Many of the lay mem- 
bers are nightly and on the Sabbath active workers in the various missions 
of the city. ' The last shall be first ;' God has taken those whom our 
faith had not dared to claim, and in these days placed them in advanced 
positions, both as regards personal experience and as missionaries to the 
lost. 



4-2 FACTS FOR CHRISTIAN THINKERS. 

" To such a work we solicit your attention. To such a work we ask 
your support, by prayer, by your donations, by your presence in the 
Home, thus encouraging others and being blest yourself, as you see and 
share the goodness of God." 



FACTS FOR CHRISTIAN THINKERS. 



The remarks of our respected Secretary just quoted are no less replete 
with truth than with the wisdom which is born of charity and developed 
by years of experience in Christian labor. I know that it has not been 
thought advisable, even by the kindest hearted men and women, to sym- 
pathize with the drunkard ; but my dear friend, whoever you may be, let 
me tell you that there is not a class of men on the face of the earth who 
need your sympathy more. 

That we gather the objects of our care exclusively from the depraved 
and vicious classes is a false idea, and we seek to remove it from the pop- 
ular mind. The privileges of the Home will never be refused to any sin- 
cerely desirous of freeing themselves from the appetite and bondage of 
intemperance, yet for the most part our work has been among men of 
culture and former position who have fallen into this life. 

Among those who have gained admission to the Home are many who 
have been born and bred to high social positions in the world. They 
have been graduated in colleges and have become clergymen, lawyers, 
physicians, and merchants, but the drink habit had undone them. If they 
are ever to recover and become true men again, it must be by the restora- 
tion of the will, and Christ, it is believed, is the only Physician who can 
restore it. 

The fine and family appearance of all the house arrangements greatly 
aid in the work among this class of inmates. All prejudices against 
asylums are removed as soon as they enter our cheerful, well furnished, 
attractive house. Their uniform restoration to health has been most 
marked. We dare but advocate one principle — total abstinence. 



43 

FILL THE HOME. 

What we desire, what multitudes of suffering, struggling, degraded 
despairing men desire, is to have this Home filled. Its ample accommo- 
dations should all be in constant use. This can readily be done if friends 
of temperance, if the friends of these needy men from every rank of life, 
w r ould supply the means. The Home does not receive aid from the Ex- 
cise Board. Its friends question the propriety of endeavoring to cure 
drunkards by licensing drunkenness. Nor does it obtain help from City 
or State funds. It is deemed inexpedient, if not harmful, to the best inter- 
ests of the community for such an institution to apply for appropriations 
from the public treasury. The work is carried on by the free gifts of all 
who feel the sore need of every agency to save intemperate men, while it 
especially appeals to those who wish to encourage in such efforts the 
wider use of direct religious influences. 

No one's heart can fail to be moved which knows the private history 
of these reclaimed men. Among them we find those who have been 
drunkards for five, ten, twenty, thirty years, and upwards. As our mind's 
eye glances over the lists we think of the many who have been arrested in 
their downward career that are now honorable members in society and 
filling prominent places in Christian churches. Many of these have gone 
into the Gospel field, laboring successfully in leading poor lost men to 
Him who saves to the uttermost. 

A NATIONAL INFLUENCE. 

We have graduates from this Home preaching this Gospel Temperance, 
either as settled pastors (of whom, by the way, we have many) or evangelists, 
or laymen, representatives in all these States I name : Alabama, Connecticut, 
California, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, 
Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, 
New Jersey, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode 
Island, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington, D. C. ; besides in 
England, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, and Australia. 

A prominent gentleman was in attendance at one oi our Saturday 
evening meetings not long since, and made this remark : " Wherever I go 



44 FACTS FOR CHRISTIAN THINKERS. 

I find representatives of this Home. In thirty-five missions which I have 
been privileged to visit within the last three months, I have found men 
who said that the Christian Home was their spiritual birthplace." So you 
see the influence of this Home is felt all over our land. Oh, that Christian 
ministers might spread the good news, and religious journals do the same, 
that there is one place where the salvation of the drunkard is relied upon 
through the agency of the Holy Spirit. I would also state that if men 
were encouraged by their friends to spread this good news after leaving 
the Home, by testifying to the saving power of God's grace, much more 
might be accomplished. The friends of the saved ones have that false 
pride still clinging to them, and they rather discourage anything of the 
kind for fear of the disgrace that might come from such testimony. 
Another thing I would like to say to the friends of those who have been 
saved in this Home, is by all means encourage them to visit the Home, 
and attend our regular Tuesday or Saturday evening meetings. Come 
along with them, and rest assured you will always be kindly welcomed. 
Also to the friends of the former members let me say this : Encourage the 
erection of the family altar. Also encourage your friends to select a home 
in some live Christian church, where they will be missed and inquired 
after in case of their absence from the regular stated services. 

THE BIBLE OUR TEXT-BOOK. 

Frequently the question is asked, " What are the amusements, and 
what do these men do ?" Our reply is that as every one who enters this 
Home comes with the desire (or professes to) of changing the tenor of his 
life, it is readily seen that the few weeks which are spent here cannot be 
put to a better use than in learning how to live the new life that all are 
supposed to enter upon. As our only text-book is the Bible, which is 
comparatively a new book to the many who come to us, we find our time 
profitably employed in its study. 

Henry Ward Beecher expressed our theory pretty thoroughly when he 
said : " By the power of the Holy Spirit men are transformed, inspired, 
and brought into a state in which it is not mockery when they are called 
sons of God. So that it is the avowed opening of this new kingdom of 



TOBACCO A SNARE. 45 

influences, it is the direct inspiration of the human soul by divine contact „ 
that constitutes the peculiar operative element of the New Testament. 
The truth that the Holy Spirit of God acting upon the human soul devel- 
ops it in all those qualities which are farthest from the animal and nearest 
to God, is that one truth of the New Testament which inspires the most 
activity, the most rational hope, and the most practical development of 
Christian efficiency. That power of God (the Holy Spirit) acting in the 
human soul, kindles the imagination, fires the reason, creates a moral en- 
thusiasm, and gives to the latent or undeveloped resources in man power 
by which he becomes a son of God in disclosure as he was before potential 
in his undeveloped condition." Let me say, we have seen no reason, since 
the beginning of this work in the old Home in 78th Street, to change our 
manner of dealing with the drunkard. After he is received, he is cared 
for by faithful, efficient Christian nurses. If the man is physically diseased^ 
and needs medical attendance, medical aid is at once summoned. Medi- 
cines are required for sick drunkards as for any other class of people who 
have suffered from exposure and from excessive use of stimulants. As 
soon as the patient is in condition, he is removed from the hospital to his. 
room. No medicine is given in this Home for the purpose of destroying 
the appetite or for weaning the man from his cups. Not a drop of liquor 
of any kind is given to "taper off," as is a common custom. 

TOBACCO A SNARE. 

The use of tobacco in any form is, as reference to our rules will show, 
strictly forbidden, and we strongly advise all our members to abandon 
the habit forever, to cast it out with their other sins, because we know it 
is a great stumbling-block to the young Christian, and in too many in- 
stances has proved to be the besetting sin. Could we forever banish 
tobacco, the twin brother of rum, I feel confident that there would be no 
cause to fear the future of most of the men who have been under the in- 
fluences of this Home. Tobacco is the rock on which many converts make 
shipwreck of their faith. Out of the 1878 men who have professed to be saved 
in this Home, not one, to our knowledge, has returned to the old vice of 
drink who has abandoned his tobacco. Do you not see, then, how our 



46 FACTS FOR CHRISTIAN THINKERS. 

hearts are pained when we know of Christian leaders who are addicted to 
this habit of tobacco using ? Can any one pretending to be a Christian 
teacher and leader successfully answer these two questions : If tobacco is 
a poison of a deadly nature, which, used by chewing, snuffing, or smoking^ 
injures the mouth and throat, the voice, stomach, and digestive organs 
produces debility, failure of ' appetite, indigestion, constipation or^ the 
bowels, injures the complexion, the lungs, the heart, poisons the blood, 
destroys the brain and nerve power, impairs the memory, deadens the 
sensibilities, creates a craving for stimulants, and makes one filthy 
even to nastiness — can a conscientious Christian man or woman use it 
with impunity, asking God to sanctify it to the benefit of his or her body ? 
If not, how before God can we dare to ask Him to purify or make us clean 
when we are constantly befouling ourselves with that weed ? We have 
invariably found it to be the case that a return to the tobacco habit in- 
volved a relapse to the drinking habit, and I never feel secure as to a 
member until he willingly resigns tobacco forever. 

After the man leaves the hospital (which is almost invariably on the 
second or third day after entering the Home), he at once attends all our 
religious exercises, and when he has had the privilege of attending either the 
Tuesday or Saturday night meetings, he is taken to the room of Mr. 
Pulis, my assistant, or to my own private room, where the plan of salvation 
is made known in all simplicity. A great majority accept Christ then and 
there. After this interview, and their profession of faith, it has been our 
custom to expect these men to openly confess Christ with their mouth 
(Rom. 10:9) in our Tuesday evening meetings. By this method we are 
•able to see just where they stand, and the progress they are making in the 
new life. 

TELLING TESTIMONIES. 

In connection with this portion of the fruit so plentifully growing in 
this interesting section of the Lord's vineyard, I deem it well to subjoin 
the following testimonies, taken as they fell at one of our Saturday night 
meetings from the lips of men who had left the Home at various periods 
of time, but all concurring in ascribing their miraculous change of heart 
and life to the power of Jesus : 



TELLING TESTIMONIES. 4? 

Mr. W. (five years true to Jesus) : " When I first came to this Home I was met 
with such a greeting that lean never forget. How different the treatment to what 
I used to receive from my fellow beings. My heart continues to go out in praise 
that He established such a place for intemperate men. Had it not been for this 
Home God only knows where I would have been. As I reflect upon my condition 
then I fail to find words lit to express my praise to my Saviour. God knows my 
heart, and that it is full. He knows whether or not I am honest. It is my deter- 
mination to make heaven my home. I have tried the world long enough ; now I 
have come to the Saviour." 

Mr. S. (over seven years steadfast) : " I feel it a great privilege to participate 
in this meeting. I have for many years been a slave of intemperance. I have no 
words at my disposal to convey even an imperfect idea of what I have suffered, 
mentally and physically, through the cursed sin of intemperance. It drew me 
down, down, until I was powerless to release myself from its relentless grasp. 
When I was induced to come here I was a skeptic. I am much indebted to Mr. 
Hayes for his uniform kindness. He suggested that I should go to the hospital 
for a time, and I came out very much improved in health, but spiritually still a 
very sick man. I came back to the Home still doubting. I heard the testimonies 
of different men, and thought they were doing it to please somebody else. But 
finally I noticed that the earnestness and sincerity of what they said stamped it 
with truth, and I reasoned with myself : ' If these men's statements be true, and 
they were all as I am, and have found salvation, surely there is hope for me.' I 
went on from day to day (and I am heartily glad to see our Manager in his accus- 
tomed place to-night, for to his teachings and his able assistant I am indebted to 
a very great extent for the marvellous change wrought in my life), and I prayed 
earnestly that God would take the appetite for drink from me : and He in His 
mercy answered my prayer, and I stand here therefore to testify to His power 
and willingness to save and to keep." 

Mr. C. (faithful for three years) : •• I journeyed fifteen hundred miles to this 
city from St. Louis for the purpose of entering the Christian Home, and I wish 
to-night to testify to all that it has done for me through the grace and mercy of 
God. Before I came to this blessed place I had been in nine institutions for treat- 
ment, but none of them were of any benefit to me. When I left here, after a 
stay of six months, I was a different man in every way : and now, as I look back 
on the days of my former life of sin, and remember how blindly I would start off 
on sprees, finding myself sometimes in one place, sometimes in another on com- 
ing to myself, and when I reflect on the infinite goodness of God which kept me 
unharmed through such experiences, I feel that I can never serve Him enough. 
How I love this Home ! It is my earthly home, and sickness alone can ever keep 
me away from these Saturday night meetings. Each day I ask God for help and 
strength, and my prayers are never left unanswered." 



48 FACTS FOR CHRISTIAN THINKERS. 

Mr. O. (ten years steadfast), the oldest graduate of the Home, said : " I too 
desire to testify to-night to „the saving goodness and mercy of Almighty God. 
Nine years ago, when I first entered this Home, Iliad lost friends, social standing, 
and all that makes life worth living. I was separated even from my own family. 
Walking out one day, while an inmate of the Home, I met my wife, who had 
only words of reproach for me. She would not, she could not, believe that I had 
really reformed, and it was a long while before she could trust the reality of my 
conversion. To-day, however, God has given back to me all that I had lost, and 
restored to me the love and respect of all those from whom I had become es- 
tranged. I have not tasted liquor since I left here, and I feel that through Divine 
goodness I am saved to the uttermost." 

Mr. E. (over three years saved by Jesus) : " Let me add my testimony to the 
love and mercy of God and of His Son Jesus Christ. When I was brought here, 
a wreck in every respect, it was, as my friends firmly believed, only to die. As 
to my reforming from my evil habits, such an event was not even taken into con- 
sideration. I was adjudged a hopeless drunkard by all, even by my own brother. 
Thanks to God and this blessed Home as an instrument, I have succeeded in gain- 
ing back the good opinions I had lost. When at the point of death, and wander- 
ing deliriously in my mind, I heard a voice saying, ' Lo ! I am with you always/ 
Then all fear of death left me, and I became certain then and there that all was 
well with me, even should I never rise again from my sick-bed. O brethren ! if 
you trust in Christ and accept Him. you need fear no evil ; you can face all dan- 
gers. I put my whole trust in Jesus, and ask that you remember me in your 
prayers." 

Mr. S. : " Before I entered this Home I was an outcast and a wanderer, with- 
out home or friends. Being obliged in my business to handle liquor constantly. I 
yielded unresistingly to its influence, until it brought me right down to walking 
the streets for want of shelter. I had tried hard to become a Christian, but did 
not know^ the right w r ay. At last I gave up my situation for the purpose of coin- 
ing to the Christian Home, and have already cause to bless God I did so. When 
I leave! shall never seek a situation where ruin is handled." 

Mr. P. : "Two months ago I entered the Home, a wretched, broken-down 
object. Soon, however, the Lord took hold of me and made me a new man. I 
had tried, I suppose, a thousand times, to give up drinking, but I always did so 
relying on my own strength. Here, however, I learned to look to God for succor. 
and He has taken away from me all appetite for the liquor which I used to drink 
from actual love of it. My companions at the shop where I am employed were 
disposed at first to sneer at me for my change of habits, but knowing the details 
of my past life, they have ceased to joke about it, and respect me for the princi- 
ples I now advocate. I put my entire trust in God, and pray that with His help 
I may stand firm." 



CONFESSING CHRIST. 40 

Mr. S. : "It is eight months now since I left the Christian Home. When I 
entered it I was a complete physical wreck, without a gleam of heme or a spark 
of energy. I was treated so well here that at first I could do nothing but cry 
whenever I found myself alone. Mr. Bunting showed me the way to salvation, 
and made the path smooth for me. After leaving the Home I was for five days 
without a place to sleep, often eating nothing for a day at a time. Then it was 
that temptation assailed me, and that the sneers of my companions did all it was 
possible to do to discourage me and cause me to doubt God's mercy. I stood 
tirm. however, and it was not long before I was taken back by my former em- 
ployer. How can I ever be thankful enough ! Those who knew me as I was 
formerly have changed their opinion of me, and I do my best to deserve their 
respect. Money could not pay what I owe this Home, and I glorify God for His 
loving kindness." 

Mr. S. : "I testify to-night to my love for Jesus Christ and my admiration 
for this Home. A little over a year since, drink had brought me down to the 
lowest depths of degradation, and unfitted me spiritually, morally, and in every 
other way for this world or the next. Many and many a time in former years I 
had tried to raise myself, but could not, because I trusted to my personal efforts 
instead of looking to God for strength. My good resolutions would last perhaps 
a month . and then social life and good fellowship got the upper hand. At last I 
was moved to ask God for help, and made up my mind to cast my burdens on the 
Saviour. He directed me to the Home, and it will be a year on Tuesday since I 
entered it. I came sick and exhausted, and on my arrival fell into a fever which 
lasted three or four days. At the end of that time Mr. Bunting sent for me and 
spoke such words of comfort as I had not heard since my mother talked to me 
when I was a child. They touched my heart : they opened up new prospects of 
peace and happiness, and through them I was led to Jesus. Ever since that time 
I have remained steadfast, and put my whole trust in God. During my business 
hours, and in the midst even of my business cares, I find always time to utter a 
few words of prayer for protection and guidance. Notwithstanding the sneers 
and gibes with which I am frequently saluted when down town, because of my 
conversion. I persevere in my efforts to do right, and having the elements of 
strength from a higher Power, I have, thank God, put the enemy under my feet. 
As a graduate of this Home. I feel an interest in every one of its members, and 
have helped to direct one or more of my friends in the right way by leading them 
here, knowing the benefits I have derived from the same source. Xo earthly 
remedy can save us from the curse of intemperance. Our only hope is in Christ, 
and to Him only can we look for salvation." 

Mr. S.: " I thank God that the religion of Christ costs nothing. If it had 



50 FACTS FOR CHRISTIAN THINKERS. 

seven years ago, I would not be here to-night, cleansed by the blood of Jesus. 
When I accepted Him I settled the question of salvation once for all, and am 
ready to serve Him for the rest of my days, remembering that ''they who trust in 
the Lord shall be as Mount Zion." The hope of future happiness in eternity up- 
holds me in the midst of this world's troubles and trials. Some day. brethren, if 
we live up to the professions we have made to-night, we shall meet in heaven and 
talk over all these matters. In the meantime, I am content to believe that I am 
saved through faith in Christ.*' 

Our religious services consist of morning Bible readings, afternoon 
prayer meetings, expressly for the members of the Home ; a Tuesday and 
Saturday evening meeting, with testimony and prayer. The Saturday 
evening meeting is public, to which all are invited. There is also a 
Thursday evening meeting conducted by one of the members, and I feel 
that Mr. Stainback, under whose special charge the meeting has been held 
for the last four years, deserves our confidence and esteem for his un- 
wavering earnestness in conducting this service. Souls have been saved, 
and often I find that the first impressions on a member of the Home were 
made in this meeting. 

W ORKEKS W A X T F I ) . 

We do seek assistance in this great work of regeneration from outside 
our Home, and will you not, my dear brother in Christ, preach as you 
stand in your pulpit the doctrine of St. Paul, " It is good neither to eat 
flesh, nor to drink w T ine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth or is 
offended, or is made weak." We then who are strong ought to bear the 
infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. And also, my sister 
or brother in Christ, will you not, by your example, try to lead the poor 
tempted one from this sin by proclaiming yourself on the side of total 
abstinence. If Christians would do this, how soon would drunkenness in 
our city be unknown, and this great evil and sin be classed as belonging 
to the things of the dark ages. Let Christian life and example put a 
blasting curse on this most terrible of sins. 

Every possible influence should be brought to bear against intemper- 
ance and its causes; and foremost in the van of total abstinence workers 



APPEAL TO CHRISTIAN WOMEN. 51 

should be the Christian mothers, wives and sisters of America. It is a strik- 
ing but too often forgotten fact that the power for good which lies within 
the reach of young women especially, has never been exercised to a degree 
in any way as great as the power for evil which follows those of their 
number who are thoughtless, frivolous or worse. Writing on the subject 
of the interest which should be taken in temperance reform by young 
ladies, Miss Carrie Scofield, of Wheeling, thus expressed herself a short 
time ago : 

11 The question that puzzles me most in this work is how to gain the interest 
of our society girls, the girls who in many respects seem to have the most in- 
fluence, the girls of education, polish and refinement — not but what we have a 
great many just such girls, but as a rule — understand, now, I am speaking of 
them as a class — they are the ones to hold themselves aloof. It seems to me this, 
is the way it is in Wheeling, the young ladies who have the most influence seem- 
ing to have the least interest, but with a little careful and delicate management I 
am sure we will soon have a union started there. The time is coming and it is 
not very far off, either, when Ave shall be mighty proud to be numbered among- 
the temperance girls of the nineteenth century. But do we as yet begin to realize 
what a power is ours ? Has the startling truth yet dawned upon us that we make 
society just what it is ? Have we yet thought what a mighty revolution there 
avouM be if we American girls would stand as one grand army and demand of 
the young men with whom we associate the same sweetness and purity of life 
that they demand of us? Oh. that the full meaning of those old, beautiful 
words of Charles Kingsley could be indelibly written upon the heart of every 
living girl : *Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever; do noble things, not 
dream them all day long, and so make life, death and that vast forever, one 
grand, sweet song/ Girls, can there be anything grander than a true woman ? 
Is not this the birthright of each and ever v one of us? Do we begin to realise 
this ? Do we ever think of living up to our high privilege ? Are the most im- 
portant things in life to us the elegance with which we dress, the ease and grace 
with which we dance, the sprightliness and volubility with which we pour forth 
small talk, the quickness and deftness with which Ave play at cards, the number 
of beaux we have? Or are they the fullness of love. joy. peace, long suffering. 
gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance? Girls, whoever Ave are. 
wherever we are. whatever Ave are, God demands us to be true." 

Yes, God demands you, women of our land to be true to Him, to all 
that is best within you, to all the possibilities for good which are within 
your grasp; and if the poet's dream be true, that she who rocks the cradle 



52 FACTS FOR CHRISTIAN THINKERS. 

rules the world, then tremendous is the responsibility which rests upon you 
if you fail in asserting your right to be wooed and wed only by men of 
Christian temperance and godlike cleanliness. 

A TRIBUTE TO MRS. BUNTING. 

Perhaps no woman lives to-day with a more practical knowledge of the 
power of her sex to win souls to Christ from the ranks of intemperate men 
than the one to whom it is fitting in this place I should pay the tribute of 
a heart, soothed, consoled, cheered and blessed beyond its deservings, by 
her gentle, loving, Christian ministrations. Beside me in every good work, 
my wife knows what it is bring all the resources of feminine influence to 
bear against the demon of strong drink. She knows what it is to have 
lived with a husband when his heart was closed to Jesus, and she realizes 
all the joy, the peace, the comfort that poured in when the soul of the 
prodigal relinquished the husks of sin for the manna of a salvation, boun- 
tiful, beautiful, plentiful as God. When upon her anxious ear fell the 
sweet tidings that I had given myself to Christ, she rejoiced in the Lord, 
and since I undertook to cultivate this special field of duty, she has been 
with me, bearing many of my crosses, weaving many of my crowns, 
lightening my burdens, and proving herself in truth and in deed a help- 
mate in grace as in nature. It has been her privilege to lead the meet- 
ings in hymns of praise day after day. Upon her delicate but ever 
willing shoulders rested many a responsibility during months of weary 
sickness to me. At all times she finds it a source of gladsome growth in 
the Christian life to minister words of hope to souls darkened by the con- 
sequences of sin, to pour the balm of Christian charity upon hearts 
saddened by the results of disobedience to God's law; and with all her 
knowledge of the pain, the woe, the untold misery caused by drunken- 
ness, she joins her voice with mine in supplicating Christian women to 
enter upon a crusade against rum, and never to relax their endeavors 
until the curse of alcoholism is banished and buried forever in the depths 
of the bottomless pit. She knows that the foul appetite for strong drink 
in man has ruined the lives of more women, blasted more homes for them, 
weighted them with more sorrows, blighted for them more fortunes and 



EVILS OF MODERATE DRINKING. 53 

cast upon them more shame, more pinching hardship and brutality than 
any other evil on the face of this sin-cursed earth. She knows that there 
are thousands of women who are widows to-day, borne down by almost un- 
bearable loads of hopeless needs, because their husbands have been slain 
by alcohol, or morphine, cocaine or opium. She knows that throughout the 
land there are thousands of homes in which w 7 ives endure lives of unspeak- 
able torture because the rum-fiend has seized those who swore to love them. 
She knows all this and more than pen or word of mine can describe. But 
she also knows that there is a Jesus w r ho is mighty to save. She knows 
that when all heaven and earth seem to have forever abandoned the in- 
temperate slave of Satan, he has but to look to Jesus, and that salvation is 
as sure as God, and everlasting as His throne. The more than two 
thousand men who have been in this Home, w T ill bear me out in saying 
that her presence conduces to their improvement. They feel her sympa- 
thetic spirit, and as I, with them, acknowledge a sense of indebtedness to 
her for the assistance given in my round of official duties, I bless God 
that He gave her to me, to tread with me His loving ways on earth and 
hereafter to share the supernal joys He has prepared for those who serve 
Him to the end. 

EVILS OF MODERATE DRINKING. 

Can any one examine the Court records for even a month, and see the 
instances of crime, suffering and want caused by drunkenness, and feel 
for one moment that in God's sight all is being done that can be done to 
drive the curse from our midst ? Who will advocate even a moderate use 
of this deadliest of all poisons to the human family at large ? Moderate 
drinking, I know, is a subject which is very distasteful to that class of 
society, who, among themselves, are above suspicion in this practice. It 
is when we condemn the practice, that we are called unwise and fanatical, 
by those, (who in their own opinion) never indulge to excess. If we were 
to contend for the suppression of the sale of intoxicants, many professed 
Christians would unite with us, but when we deal a blow against the sin 
of moderate drinking, we offend many who occupy high positions in Church 
and State. 



54 FACTS FOR CHRISTIAN THINKERS. 

Moderate drinking in the home circle exposes the weak to a danger 
which even the strong are rarely able to resist. Moderate drinking is a 
domestic indulgence and that which gives pleasure to the parents cannot 
be refused to the children. Therefore around the family table the first 
sip of wine is taken. Oh, the soul and body destroying influence thus in- 
flicted upon the unsuspecting child ! 

Yes, in Christian homes in this city the children are allowed to tipple, 
and in this, parents are allowing that work to be done at which the Evil 
One smiles. What the child sees the father or mother do, it of course 
will do with unsuspecting confidence. Oh, father, mother, do you know 
to what this piactice that you are ruilty of, will lead your unsuspecting 
boy ? During the period in which the child's character is forming, he 
know r s of no kingdom but his father's home. Is not the father's word 
taken on every question ? Will not your example influence that boy in 
his future intercourse with the world ? Now it is this far reaching in- 
fluence connected with domestic drinking customs which sends forth from 
so many families a drunkard. 

Trace, if you will, this evil of intemperance, and it will be found that 
its origin was the social custom of moderate drinking in the home circle. 

A party assembles; father and mother, sister and brother, friends and 
little ones are all there. The voice of laughter is heard with tlr- song, 
the jests, the interchanges of social affection. And now the wine is 
passed, and the contents of the glass are but tasted, yet is there not 
danger here ? Harmless as it all seems, yet the most deadly work is being 
done ; an influence unseen but subtle, is entwining itself like a serpent 
about the affections of those young hearts, and slowly but surely it will 
bring them under a most degrading bondage. 

Tell me, fathers and mothers, are you not teaching your children to 
drink, and that they can do it because it is fashionable and safe, and 
because you drink moderately ? 

Is not an appetite being formed in them which may yet bring sorrow 
and disgrace upon your unsuspecting head ? And will you, in future 
years, be willing to admit that it was through your example that your child 
became a drunkard ? 



FROM THE HOME CIRCLE TO THE PRISON. 55 

Many of our applications tell this story. When asked the question, 
"When and where did you first drink of the intoxicating cup ?" the an- 
swer has been, " At my father's table." 

Oh, you may try and deny the fact, but the boy knows where he took 
his first drink. If you allow your children to drink, and sanction the 
custom in your own house, rest assured that between your sanction and 
the mistaken kindness of friends, an appetite will be created which all the 
remonstrances of friends and respect for character and standing may not 
be able to control. 

Let me give you a true story. The son of a highly respectable family 
was found to be dishonest and was sent to prison. His father visited the 
prison. Dissipation had done its work, yet the father knew his boy. 
4k And what do you think of yourself now, father ?" said the son, as he 
stood in the far corner of his cell. " Think of myself, my son," said the 
father ; " what do you mean ?" " The glass of wine you first gave me is 
the cause of it all. But for your example I never should have drank. The 
wine at the table at home first gave me the impression that there could be 
no harm in my indulging at a friend's table also." 

Such are the fruits of moderate drinking as daily practiced in this city 
at the family table. Shall we be still, or shall we continue exposing the 
evils of this most pernicious system ? Will not the Church join with us in 
trying to drive this curse from our homes ? 

THE HIGH LICENSE FALLACY. 

In special fitness with the agreement of view that moderate drinking 
is an evil, springs up an idea that the manufacture and sale of alcoholic 
stimulants should be forever prohibited. But say some unthinking friends 
of temperance, " It is useles: to try to prohibit the sale of intoxicants 
wholly. It cannot be done. Is it not much better to have half as many 
saloons as now exist, and receive a high revenue from them, rather than 
try to prohibit and fail in trying ? " 

Xo ! no ! Every time we would say no ! Because we cannot banish 
all these rum s^ops at once, for the reason that there is evil legislation, 
and that officers of the law fail to do their even now inadequate duty, will 



50 FACTS FOR CHRISTIAN THINKERS. 

we say, " We will sanction crime by having men pay a large amount of 
money so that they by law shall be permitted to commit crime ?" 

Well do I remember, in my youthful days, how I argued with my aged 
step-father, as I saw him year after year go to the ballot-box and deposit 
his anti-slavery ballot. I tried to convince him that his vote was just. 
thrown away. He, however, still continued, as he said it was a principle 
that instigated him to do it. As men argue now in relation to Prohibi- 
tion, so I argued on the anti-slavery question. It was not many years 
before I saw his premises of right prevail, and the party in power fade 
away, and at last go out of existence. 

So with this great moral question of to-day. The cloud maybe no- 
larger than a man's hand as seen in our horizon, yet it is a cloud, and it 
has an indication. 

But, persist still the good people who are led astray by the High 
License fallacy, " Establish the High License system and there will be 
fewer places left to tempt the poor unfortunate drunkard. You are fana 
tical on the subject — a half loaf is better than no bread." We know 
some of these people and know them to be honest in their delusion. But 
this honesty of purpose does not change the inherent character of their 
act and its consequences, and we say to them in reply, Why license at 
all ? If it be right to sell rum then let men sell it as they do any other 
article of merchandise. Let them sell it as milk is sold, or shoes, or dry- 
goods, or bread and meat. 

NO COMPROMISE WITH SATAN. 

Too fanatical, yes, thank God, if to have and to hold no compromise 
with the devil be fanatical, I am a fanatic. If to have registered a vow 
before God; with His angels; my own heart; my w T ife; my friends; hun- 
dreds of men, redeemed by Jesus, using me as His agent, and my fellow- 
citizens generally, as witnesses of that vow, to w T age relentless war against 
the rum-fiend, and with the sword of the Spirit, protected in the armor 
of Christ, and my Creator, "as my strong rock for a house of defence,'" 
to strive against alcohol with every energy of which I am capable, if thfe 
be fanatical, then I am — andjglory in it — a fanatic. 

Fanatical ! 



LICENSE CRIME AND RUIN YOUR BOY. 57 

Ah ! Look upon things as they are and then let me ask how can you 
u long halt between two opinions," and when will people learn that 
liquor-selling, it matters not how high the license, cannot be made to 
pay a hundredth part of its own expenses. As you look upon your son, 
the pride of your heart, can you place any amount, however high, before 
the city ur town, as a license for a place where this boy by your vote can 
get his dram legally and become a drunkard ! 

What would be a fair compensation for the ruin of your boy ? Your 
poor wife dies of a broken heart; your son at last fills a drunkard's grave, 
and you say it is better to have a half loaf than no bread. What do you 
mean ? Does not your own flesh and blood pay the High License that 
you vote to be granted ? How can honest Christian men be so blinded. In 
the name of humanity we ask you to stop and think before you further 
go. 

RATHER FREE RUM THAN LICENSE CRIME. 

Xo ! by far let it be free rum rather than by vote license crime. This 
liquor license scheme is not a scheme to banish alcohol, but to legalize 
and perpetuate it. Are we not guilty, and do we not become parties to 
this soul and body destroying traffic, and receive a portion of this blood 
money that is paid into the treasury of State, city, or town, when we vote 
for license, high or low ? It would seem that the whole scheme is a trick 
of the devil, and yet as an angel of light he appears to many a good 
honest heart, and w ould deceive by these de\~ices and schemes. 

What would you think if a petition should be handed you to sign, per" 
mitting a crime to be enacted in your town for money, the petitioners 
saying: " It will be done, and we want you to sanction it, and we will pay 
for the privilege. It will be done if you do not sign our petition, only we 
place this before you to give you to understand that if we can be per- 
mitted to do this by law, we will act as detectives to prevent t^ose who 
are not legally permitted to do the things which we ask to be allowed the 
privilege of doing?" Why, there is not a man with the least honor who 
would listen to such an argument for a moment ! 



58 FACTS FOR CHRISTIAN THINKERS. 

Now my friends let me ask, what is being done to-day in this com- 
munity in this regard ? Are we not sanctioning crime when we vote for 
those who prolong the reign of King Alcohol by license, high or low ? 
And is not license, high or low, nothing more nor less than granting a 
man a permit to pay into the treasury so much money, and by thus pay- 
ing the amount stipulated, secure the legal right to make a father, hus- 
band, or son a miserable drunkard — oermitting these rumsellers to rob 
wives and children of the food and raiment necessary to preserve their 
lives, and bring sickness and death to innocent men ? 

This is the precise status of the license question and all this to license 
a traffic frowned upon by God, and held to be a business that no honor- 
able man can engage in ! Is it not a fact that the city or town which 
licenses men to sell rum, commissions them to destroy the character and 
standing of their customers ? If the dealer by a license sells rum to a 
husband, and he goes to his home maddened by that rum, and there in his 
frenzy strikes down his helpless wife, we ask if God does not hold that 
rumseller as being accessory to that murder ? If so, does He not hold 
the voter responsible for giving that rumseller a right to sell by law that 
which has made the husband a murderer ? Should not the law hold that 
rumseller responsible ? If so, should not the same law condemn the man 
that made it lawful to sell by license ? Answer this, you men who advo- 
cate high or low license. 

God has said, and it will prove itself true, "Though the w T icked join 
hand in hand, they shall not go unpunished." 

SUPPRESS IT UTTERLY. 

Understanding and realizing the evils which flow from the manu- 
facture and sale of alcoholic stimulants, is it not time for us to ask, 
Is there one reasoning, intelligent Christian man who will try to uphold 
this traffic as at all necessary to our prosperity, peace, or happiness ? Has. 
not this trade in alcoholic spirits from the first been considered a debas- 
ing and dishonorable business ? Are not its patrons constantly in the 



-ABOLISH THE RUM TRAFFIC. 59 

hands of the courts of our land ? Whenever spoken of, has not this busi- 
ness been denounced by the better class as a dangerous thing to be 
allowed in any community? And from what we have seen, from what we 
have suffered, from what we have known about it, has not the time ar- 
rived when we should as one man declare that forbearance ceases 
to be a virtue, and as our long-suffering is exhausted, and reformation 
seems hopeless, is it not time that we demand by law that this curse be 
driven from our country, that the license law be abolished, that all kinds 
of limitations and restrictions be ended, and the sale of alcoholic stimu- 
lants as a beverage be prohibited by the laws of our land ? 

Are we not square in our premises ? Is not the purport of the law which 
has been established in these United States the protection of our inter- 
ests and general welfare ? Now, this law is supposed to protect every- 
thing that would promote our general welfare, and to suspend everything 
antagonistic to its best interests. Does it not seek to guard life, liberty, 
property, and morals from every influence hostile to them ? It matters 
not what may be the cause, so long as it interferes with these, would it 
not be considered amenable to the law in any of our courts of justice ? 

Then do not find fault or censure us for the stand we have taken 
against this vile and insidious destroyer of all that is good and holy, 
peaceful and lovely on the face of this broad earth. It is upon this ground 
we make our declaration. It is upon this broad principle we make our 
defense, and call upon our legislatures to pass such laws as shall protect 
us from the evils of this abominable traffic which is the maelstrom that 
will soon engulf this nation. 

RUM THE COMMON ENEMY. 

While this traffic is allowed in our midst, life is in danger ; railway 
trains are driven to destruction, elegant steamers, freighted with passen- 
gers, on a bright moonlight night (as on Vineyard Sound, for example) are 
driven upon the rocks on our coast; and the account of murders committed 
through rum are perfectly astounding. One hundred thousand miserable 
wretches, maddened by the curse, are buried from sight yearly; and still in 
this boasted Christian land we say we cannot help it and therefore make all 



60 FACTS FOR CHRISTIAN THINKERS. 

this legal by a license. Should not such words as these, coming from true 
American hearts, cause us to hide our faces? Have we not a right to 
claim protection for our property and that of our friends ? What protec- 
tion has the wife of a drunkard to-day ? Her home is turned over to legal- 
ized rum-sellers, her children are sent to the asylums of our country, and 
the bloated wretch of a husband is arrested from time to time, and the city 
finds him a home in her public institutions, while the poor wife is left to 
drag out a miserable existence in some basement or attic. And yet we 
boast of our land of liberty ; and with all this these destroyers of all that 
is good call for their rights to be respected, and ask that laws may be so 
made that they shall feel secure in their hellish traffic. 

Now, if it be right by law to punish crime, is it not right by law to 
prevent crime ? Are we to have a law for the suppression of crime and 
another law legalizing the originators of crime ? Shall we bylaw imprison 
the man who, infatuated by this demon, rum, beats his wife and chil- 
dren, and not try rather to seize upon the demon before it is allowed to 
enter the man ? 

And now, after all this, we would ask any fair-minded person if we are 
hot headed, extravagant in our demonstrations, or can we say anything 
harsh enough against this disturber of family peace and enemy of civiliza- 
tion ? To the rescue then, ye men of principle, and do not let it be said 
longer in this our native land that it cannot be stopped. Call upon 
God, ye men of God, and pray without ceasing until this enemy of all 
good shall be driven from our land. 

RUM-SELLING A CRIME. 

Many of my readers are aware that there are those who parade before 
the country as temperance lecturers — men who declaim against the 
folly of drunkenness, and yet appear anxious to palliate the crime of rum- 
selling, excusing the rum-seller, in fact, as a mere deluded individual who 
does not realize all the horrid enormity of the crime he is committing. 
Out upon such loud-mouthed apology for reason ! Out upon such mani- 
fest travesty of common sense ! It might be possible for such excuse to 
find justification in those days when no license was granted by the com- 



RUM-SELLING A CRIME. 61 

munity to the rum-seller, when no man was expected to pay $500 or any 
other given sum of money to make the business of rum-selling legitimate 
before the law and consequently, by a legal fiction at least, quasi-respect- 
able in itself. Xo man engaged in that accursed traffic in this nineteenth 
century is ignorant of the fact that he is committing an outrage on civili- 
zation, and when any pseudo-temperance advocate talks to me of justice 
and mercy, for his '• brother" the rum-seller, I feel as though such person 
were going out of his way to plead for a perpetrator of crime equiva- 
lent to murder, highway robbery, or theft. 

Palliate, plead for, excuse, extenuate the rum-seller and his business 
if you will, but all your flights of rhetoric cannot hide the deep dam- 
nation of his example nor remove the demoralizing effects of his busi- 
ness. His presence is a blasting curse. His business is a withering 
blight. His gold is coined in the mints of broken hearts. His river cf 
life is fed with woman's tears. His sails are filled with the cries of infancy 
His seas are strewn with the wrecks of desolated homes. Excuse the rum- 
seller ! No. No man knows better than he that his business, like the 
upas tree, poisons where it flourishes, withers the tender charities of life, 
and causes the weeping and the sorrow which refuse to be comforted in 
their bitter lamentation and woe. 

Oh, may God in His mercy look upon the rum-sellers and change their 
hearts. They are a hell deserving class, whose very self-interest it is to 
turn the city, State, and Nation into a mass of seething drunkenness, to 
debase the manhood of the country by changing friends of order into 
promoters of disorder, upholders of Christian civilization into practical 
apologists for demoniac barbarism, degrade womanhood, destroy child- 
hood, level the church to erect the jail, abolish the altar to establish the 
scaffold, and in the very excess of its lustful blasphemy attempt to de- 
throne God at the call of Satan. 

"Ah," cries one, " this is an overdrawn picture." Not so, my friend, 
for were you to have occupied my position for the past ten years you 
would have found men — the finished product of the rum-shop — men who 
had had bright careers and golden prospects before them — so degraded 
by drunkenness that they would not accept salvation if offered them, 



G2 FACTS FOR CHRISTIAN THINKERS. 

would not accept the offer of release though it were accompanied by in- 
dubitable proof that they had but to will the acquiescence of their desires 
with the will of the Master in order to destroy their foul appetite forever. 
I know that there are drunkards who have reached such a stage of degra- 
dation that if they could, and the offer made and proven to them beyond 
a doubt that the appetite could be overcome or eradicated, would volun- 
tarily continue in their degraded, wretched lives. It is true that such 
utterly lost and completely abandoned men have not crossed my pathway 
often. But I have seen enough of them, and of men who had gone per- 
ilously close to their lines, to feel that the rum-seller is of all men the 
one most directly responsible for the largest amount of misery in time 
and damnation in eternity. 

Rum-selling is a crime. Then, in God's name, let us expose and root 
out the criminals. 

IT IS OUR NATIONAL SIN. 

It may be suggested that in thus assailing the rum traffic in its every 
phase I am travelling somewhat out of the record or beyond the scope of 
this little work. But in presenting facts for Christian thinkers to ponder 
over, situated as I am at the head of this Home, where the consequences 
of rum in all their horrible forms are perpetually reminding me of the 
cause of such ruin, I must cry out — yes, though every other man were 
dumb I must speak against this agent of Satan in bringing souls to hell. 
Before me every day are bright intellects, loving hearts, "fine fellows" in 
every way, all brought low by this accursed thing, and though every pul- 
pit were voiceless, still would I exclaim, O God, do Thou touch my lips 
with a burning coal, so that, like Thy prophet of old, I may speak Thy 
message with mightier power day by day. In all the crime that flows from 
alcoholism the city, State, and Nation share, because in their corporate 
capacity they handle, they deal with, the provocative cause. No country 
can boast of greater advantages, no country can offer the rising generation 
greater facilities *for every kind of business pursuit, no country places 
more abundant resources within the reach of man. No land has been 
more signally blessed and prospered, and yet it is evident that we are fast 



IT IS OUR NATIONAL SIN. 63 

travelling the downward road which will soon lead us into a terrible pit. 
Through false teachings this dreadful evil of intemperance is makings 
frightful inroads upon the morals of our unsuspecting youth. Could we 
but summon the young men of the country who have entered upon this 
path of death, and ask of each one the cause of his sad and deplorable 
condition — bright prospects clouded, suns seemingly going down forever, 
no home, no friends, parents broken hearted, if not filling untimely graves, 
wives and children left to drag out a sad existence — would not each one 
answer, It is on account of your own personal, civil and national selfish- 
ness ; it is because in giving a color of respectability to habits of moder- 
ate drinking and to the traffic in strong drink, you have led, thoughtlessly 
perhaps, but nevertheless assuredly, your unsuspecting children and com- 
panions to destruction ? 

We witness daily, in the case of wretched men who come under our 
immediate care, the blighting effects of this poison upon the intellect, and 
this more within the two years last past than ever before. But this is not 
the saddest part of it. It is the ruin of the soul which is wrought. Oh ! 
the horror that awaits you by whose example or words this curse has 
fallen upon a brother. " Woe unto them who are mighty to drink wine, 
and men of strength to consume strong drink." Oh ! that those blinded, 
misled leaders of moderation (?) would pause and reflect before they lead 
the innocent ones further down to death and hell. Listen while on bended 
knee you pray, "Lead us not into temptation." Oh ! beware, my brother ! 
Are you not, by your own example, leading the thoughtless ones down the 
slippery, deceitful steps which comparatively few remount, and if they do, 
in a maimed and crippled condition ? Do you boast of your own strength 
above that of the weaker brother ? Because you may be able to drink 
your brother drunk, will you claim yourself as temperate ? God does not 
judge us by the quantity of liquor we can hold and carry. If it is a sin,, 
you will not go unpunished. Beware, oh my deluded brother, beware ! 
God will hold you to a strict account for your wretched example. The 
habitual daily use of intoxicants brings on disease and shortens life, and 
it may therefore be conceded that any use of liquor as a beverage is intern- 



64 FACTS FOR CHRISTIAN THINKERS. 

perance, although the effects may not be immediately made manifest in 
the appearance or conversation of the habitual user. 

THE DRUNKARD'S TERRIBLE APPETITE. 

It is estimated that in our land we have no less than one million 
"habitual drunkards. Each one of these calls for sympathy and aid, 
and through the blessing of God they may be saved and gain eternal life. 
For the sin of drunkenness (and that is just what we must call it) there 
can be no apology, but that the drunkard's condition is pitiable no one 
will deny. It matters not what station or standing he may have had, nor 
how respectable he may have been, his downfall at first may have been 
gradual, a temperate drinker he may have been called, but the appetite 
soon is formed. Oh ! the drunkard's appetite ! It is indeed described as 
the gnawing of " the worm that never dieth." In this terrible state he 
•calls for help, and at this very hour in his life he would give all for this 
-saving power as he cries, "Oh ! wretched man that I am !" Many a man 
whom we have taken into this Home has sought help in every known 
way but the sure and only way. They do struggle to overcome appe- 
tite. By voluntary commitment they cause themselves to be imprisoned. 
Sea voyages are taken. They wrestle in agony, and all to no purpose, 
until God's grace is implanted in their hearts. Will you not come to 
our help ? will you not aid us with your prayers ? 

The drunkard's appetite is a thing of which no one can have knowl- 
edge save the drunkard himself, and even he can only know it by experi- 
ence rather than by definition. Physicians and scientists have failed in 
.all their efforts to discover precisely of what it consists or the part cf the 
body in which it is located. They have vainly tried to find a suitable 
name for it, and some have tied it to the palate, others have put it 
in the stomach, some have placed it in the brain, and others have distrib- 
uted it among the nerves. But oh ! the man who has been once afflicted 
with this hell-created appetite knows it combines all these together, that 
it is the whole system of the slave stirred to a mighty frenzy, the entire 
alcoholized being crying aloud for strong drink. Withhold the drink from 
him and the intense, burning pangs seem akin to the torments of Dives, 



BARTERING ALL FOR RUM. (>> 

who prayed that Lazarus might be sent to dip the tip of his finger in 
water and cool his burning tongue. The power and bondage of this ap- 
petite beggar description. Held fast in its terrible chain, the victims of 
alcohol are driven to every extremity. Which one of those who have ever 
mingled freely in barroom society has not seen the bloated sot, shaking 
from head to foot, taking his very life in his hand, saying to his comrades, 
" Here goes for another drink." Yes, though he die in the attempt, the 
wretched man is determined to have it. He jeopardizes soul as well as 
body rather than endure the craving of the horrid thirst which is consum- 
ing him. There are many incidents to prove the terrible nature of this 
appetite, and I have met with men who declared that though hell itself 
were to engulf them, yet they should have rum. A gentleman once said 
to a hopeless drunkard, whom he had in earlier years known as a bright 
and promising young man : "Why don't you quit this life ? Don't you 
see that you are ruining your family ; that you have lost your social posi- 
tion, your property, your health, and that you are going down to a drunk- 
ard's grave ?" This is the answer that he got : " Do you think you have 
told me anything new ? Do you suppose there is anything in domestic 
happiness or social position or health even that I have not thought of a 
hundred times to your once, or that I do not know the value of as well as 
you do ? I have had these things held up to me and held them up myself 
hundreds of times. I have got them by heart. But they have ceased to- 
mean anything to me, I know what domestic comfort is, but I don't want 
it. I don't want social position. I don't want the respect of my fellow- 
men. I don't want money. I don't want health. I want rum. It is the 
only thing I do want ; and when you offer me all these other things you 
do not tempt me a bit." "What can successfully fight this raging appetite 
which masters so many men everywhere?" asks the Atlanta (Ga.) "Con- 
stitution," and that very ably conducted newspaper replies: "Clearly noth- 
ing tut the impossibility of getting the stuff for which the drunkard 
thirsts." But while acknowledging all the advantages possible to Prohibi- 
tion, our answer to such question is that- the grace of God is the only 
weapon strong enough to strike down the infernal spirit of alcohol. Could 
any mere human device remove the appetite from the unfortunate man. 



66 FACTS FOR CHRISTIAN THINKERS. 

whose tale of temporal and eternal ruin is told in the following incident : 
*'One wintry afternoon a trembling man entered a tavern in New Hamp- 
shire carrying a small bundle of clothing. Going to the bar, he said : 

" Landlord, I'm burning ; give me a glass of gin." 

The landlord pointed to a lot of chalk marks, and said: "John, you see 
that old score; not another drop till that is paid." 

The poor wretch glared fiercely at the man behind the bar. 

"Landlord, you don't mean that. You have got my farm and horses, 
you have got my tools. All I have in the world is this little bundle of 
clothes. Please, landlord, give me for them just one glass of gin." 

"I don't want your old clothes," calmly answered the man. "Pay the 
old score first," 

The drunkard staggered back. A gentleman then said : 

"What will you give me for enough to buy two glasses of gin ? I see 
you have a good pair of boots on your feet ; will you give me your boots 
for twenty cents ?" 

The miserable wretch hesitated for one moment, then said : 
"Stranger, if I give you the boots, I must go out into the snow bare- 
footed. If I give you the boots, I must freeze to death ; if I don't give 
them to you, I shall burn to death. Stranger, it is harder to burn to death 
than to freeze to death. Give me the gin ; you may have the boots." 

He sat down and began to draw them off. The gentleman did not, 
however, intend to take them, but he was testing the terrible appetite. 
Others were looking on, and they said the man should have his gin. 
They supplied him liberally, and he drank all he could and took the rest 
away. JWhen night came he had drunk the last drop, and he went to sleep 
in a barn. The frost king came and took the man in his arms. The next 
morning his body was found dead in the barn ; and, O God ! I shudder 
as I ask myself, Where was his immortal soul ? 

To men it may seem impossible to convert such slaves of appetite, but 
with God not so, for to Him all things are possible. While these men 
are suffered to live as they do, they are only a curse to the community. 
The moment they are regenerated society is relieved of its greatest bur- 
den. " And what can I do ?" you may ask. By your example, my Chris- 



JESUS SAVES TO THE UTTERMOST. 67 

tian brother, you may prove "a savour of life unto life, or of death unto 
death." Cease, then, setting an example which may prove their ruin. Of 
course some are deceived, and in deceiving themselves have misled those 
who have labored with and for them. This must be so to some extent ; 
but the number is small, as our statistics will show, of those who, having 
remained for some time in the Christian Home, go back to their evil ways. 
In this place they have learned that there is a way to the goal of 
emancipation. Here they have realized that — despite so-called scientists 
who attempt to show that because their finite capacity cannot discover a 
medicine to cure this appetite, there is therefore a limit to the power of 
Jesus, the Infinite — still there is healing for their bruised beings in the 
only remedy for sin, the Gospel of the Son of God. 

Yes, praise His dear name forever. "He breaks the power of cancelled 
sin and sets the prisoner free." In this Home, after years of simple but 
implicit trust as their only safeguard, men rise from their seats week after 
week — the scholar from his books, the laborer from his load — this one 
from a group of anxious clients — that one from out a throng of confiding 
patients — this one from the banking house — that one from the counter — 
this one from his ledger — that one from the factory — this one from the 
pulpit — that one from the pew — all proclaiming their freedom, rejoicing in 
their liberation, purged of every stain, clean as new-born babes from every 
taint of rum and tobacco, opium or morphine. 

Yes, glory to Jesus ! He saves to the uttermost, and enables each dear, 
precious, redeemed soul to cry with Saint Paul, "I am not ashamed of the 
Gospel of Christ ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one 
that believeth." 

THE MORPHINE OR OPIUM HABIT. 

[These pages, dealing with the morphine habit, have been contributed 
by a physician who was rescued in the Christian Home. — Ed.] 

This pernicious habit, destructive alike of all physical energy and of all 
moral character, is fearfully on the increase. Professor Ball, M.D., of the 
Paris Faculty of Medicine, estimates that there are to-day hundreds of 
thousands of human beings enslaved by it. 

It is here proposed to notice briefly ; (a.) The conditions leading to 



68 FACTS FOR CHRISTIAN THINKERS. 

the use of morphine ; {&.) The effects of its abuse ; (V.) The effects of 
abstinence ; and, finally, the method and process of cure. 

It is necessary to premise that the inducements to the use of opiates, 
and the facilities for it, have very much increased with the substitution of 
morphine for opium, and of the hypodermic method for ingestion, say a 
period of twenty-five years ago.* 

(a.) The conditions leading to the habitual use of morphine are generally 
either physical pain or mental suffering, conjoined with a given tempera- 
ment which may be called " constitutional exhaustion " — the neurastheniac 
of pathologists. Where this temperament is lacking morphine gives no 
satisfaction, but the contrary. Hence in such cases the habit is never 
formed. The drug may be tolerated by them as a remedy for acute 
transient suffering; but beyond that it is not borne. 

It is far otherwise with the neurasthenic subject. These subjects are 
very generally the offspring of intemperate parents; one or both parents 
having been alcoholic subjects, and while utterly denying the assertion 
that drunkenness is hereditary, yet it is a fact that the nervous system of 
such offspring is generally hypersensitive, and the individual, often 
talented, lacks all sustained power. Eventually by some accident the sus- 
taining effects of morphine are experienced, and from that moment the 
snare is sprung; the individual is a predestined habitue. 

The authority already cited well remarks that the morphine habit, in 
its wider sense, "was literally created by a physician; " for although there 
were victims of opium and morphine before Prof. Wood's invention of the 
hypodermic method; yet the introduction of that method marks an era in 
the history of this vice. From that date the habitual use of the drug 
nas increased many hundred fold, and has attained a fearful rate of pro- 
gress by which it threatens to sweep away multitudes of bright intellects, 
and to desolate many homes. 

(b.) For although the first effects of this habit are exhilarating, and 
many subjects experience no ill effects for a lapse of weeks or even 
months, yet the inexorable demand of the system for increasing doses, in 

* The introduction of morphine as a drug was a good deal earlier; but, owing to its expensiveness. it 
was not in general use until the invention of the hypodermic method. 



s 



MORPHINE AND MENDACITY. 69 

order to maintain the desired relief from suffering, sooner or later results 
in paralysis of the will-power, perversion of the moral feelings, insensibil- 
ity to natural ties and obligations, intellectual dulness, lethargy, dyspepsia, 
neuralgia, hallucinations, — and finally Bright's disease of the kidneys, and 
death — moreover, if any acute disease supervene before the kidneys 
are disorganized, the recuperative powers of nature are so undermined 
that the chances of recovery are greatly diminished. 

The perversion of moral feeling and consequent change of character 
is in nothing more evident than in the singular mendacity of these 
unhappy cases. The same individuals who were previously truthful and 
honorable will now lie without compunction, and in other ways exhibit the 
loss of all sense of honor. 

This deplorable picture is not overdrawn. Morphinomania is the term 
by which medical men have named this unhappy condition. It becomes 
indeed a mania, a derangement of mind and of sensibility, as well as of 
body. But we ask in all charity. Is it not the victim's own fault ? Some 
indeed fall into the snare before they know its danger or to what ruin it 
surely leads. But all such who are of ordinary intelligence soon know- 
that they are committing sin against their own bodies and their own souls, 
as well as against friendships and society and God. And they 
know that if they cannot deliver themselves it is their duty with all speed 
to seek deliverance by means of such helpers as may be found. 

This brings us to our third point, (c.) TJie effects of abstinence. An 
individual once under the power of considerable doses, even for a few- 
weeks only, has not the power of his own will to deliver himself. If he 
undertakes to diminish the daily allowance, and is still possessed of some 
determination, he may sustain the consequent suffering for a few days — 
one, two, or three — but he is sure soon to lose his self-control ; as surely 
as a patient undergoing a surgical operation without anaesthetics. He 
may endure the torture bravely for a limited time, but the limit is soon 
passed : judgment and self-control are alike dethroned. 

If now, by submitting to the stronger control of others, the diminution 
of doses is persevered in, the chief suffering, aside from loss of appetite 
and inability to sleep, is quite generally from an indefinable sense of anguish 



70 FACTS FOR CHRISTIAN THINKERS. 

referred to the epigastrium, but probably seated in the solar plexus of 
nerves. This sense of anguish is accompanied by a painful exhaustion per- 
vading the whole system, and all this, together with the protracted insom- 
nia, renders the condition deplorable enough. 

That there are permanent recoveries by this method, if proper adju- 
vants are used, is not denied ; but we are inclined to think they are few. 
The system becomes, so to speak, exasperated by the slow torture of the 
gradual withdrawal of an accustomed stimulant ; judgment and self-con- 
trol are reduced to the last degree, and during the long period of conva- 
lescence yet to follow the determination yields. 

This brings us to our final point — the method and process of cure. 

In the Christian Home the first step taken is the abrupt and absolute 
withdrawal of morphine and every other opiate from these cases when 
undertaking a cure. As in surgical practice, so here : the quick, sharp 
method is the way of mercy as well as of science. The immediate shock 
is greater, but the sum of suffering is far less, and the desired end is far 
sooner attained and more surely. 

This, however, presupposes that the case is placed under favorable 
conditions. It is not possible to pursue this plan successfully in one's, 
own home and among friends. Isolated in some kindly institution, hav- 
ing suitable apartments, with nursing and medical attendance, the recov- 
ery, after a conflict of a few days, is often rapid. Absolute seclusion, with 
rest in bed, is essential for a period of ten or twelve days. During the 
first five or six days of this period the suffering is greatly diminished by 
judicious medical appliance. There are two objects in view, namely, to 
tone arid to quiet the shaken and suffering nerves. It would be not only 
cruel, but also unsafe, to leave the sufferer without such relief as medical 
art and nursing can minister. 

At the end of five or six days medical means may generally be dimin- 
ished or withdrawn ; but the patient should still rest absolutely in bed, 
and under the eye of medical attendant and nurses. 

At or about the tenth or twelfth day he may leave his bed, and by the 
end of the third or fourth week he will realize that he is fully convales- 



THE COCAINE HABIT. 71 

cent; but his absolute quarantine should be prolonged considerably beyond 
this period, until self-control is fully established. 

The powers of nutrition are so much impaired that the quality as well 
as the quantity of food taken requires attention. Milk in considerable 
quantity, and frequently, is an important addition to the diet. 

In the Christian Home this is the method pursued, together with a 
kind and persistent moral influence, with faithful testimony that no man 
once enslaved by a destroying appetite is ever safe except he has the love 
of God in his heart and the filial fear of God before his eyes. A life of trust 
and of prayer is the only sufficient refuge from the pursuing evil. The 
Lord Jesus is the Saviour of the body as well as of the soul. 

HOW COCAINE ENSLAVES. 

To a non-professional man such as I am it cannot be otherwise than 
astounding to learn how many of the very men who ought to best know 
the results of using drugs, whether as stimulant, narcotic, or anaesthetic, re- 
sort to such means of debasing their bodies and destroying their souls, and 
yet it is precisely from the ranks of the medical profession, or from among 
those who are related to it, such as pharmaceutists and apothecaries, come 
the larger number of persons who in this Home have sought release from 
their horrid appetite. As in cases of opium or morphine-using so in co- 
caine, whatever observation we have had has been furnished chiefly 
from the medical profession. This cocaine habit seems to be the very 
acme of pernicious appetite, and reduces its slave to the lowest depths, 
changing the stalwart form, the ruddy cheek, the erect bearing, into 
an emaciated, hollow-eyed, bilious-faced, flat-chested, helpless limp of 
humanity — a very caricature of manhood, with a look like a hunted beast, 
the shrunken frame trembling, the will-power utterly wrecked, every 
lingering sense of oersonal honor and cleanliness destroyed, and but one 
madding desire — to use the awful drug at all cost, at any peril. 

It is difficult for one who is not a physician and has never had the 
misfortune of being under the power of this peculiar appetite, to properly 
describe the results of using cocaine, and many of their chief characteristics, 
as narrated by its victims, resemble those which follow the use of 



72 FACTS FOR CHRISTIAN THINKERS. 

opium or morphine. From a state of melancholy and wretchedness the 
user of cocaine, under the influences of constantly increasing doses, ar- 
rives at a stage of dreamy intoxication, half delirium — a languorous pleas- 
ure, like listening to enchanting music. Then other sensations break in, 
and there are reveries of sadness, feverish, unsatisfied longings, weird 
terrors of nameless things, vague apprehensions of unreal dangers. 
Gradually the victim's hell is reached as the effects of the dose begin to 
wear away. From a semi-delirous delight — from a nameless sadness the 
wretch falls into a horrible depression, an atmosphere of darkness and 
suffocation, the air peopled with threatening shapes until the unfortunate 
one wants to die. So much as is known professionally of cocaine it is 
not narcotic but a stimulant, with subsequent depression, and is a local 
anaesthetic of power and beneficent result in the hands of a skilful and 
prudent surgeon. All the slavevy in which the laudanum, opium or mor- 
phine user is held (and the cocaine victim invariably uses morphine 
alternately) keeps fast hold on the bondman of cocaine and to help 
bring about release from its deadening grasp our methods in nowise differ 
from those we apply to the victims of other terrible drugs. Seclusion, 
absolute withdrawal of the drug, nutritious food, care and rest for the 
body, reliance on Jesus, the Great Physician, to heal the soul, placing the 
strength of His mighty will against the trembling will of the victim and 
sustaining the weak one by " the living bread which came clown from 
heaven" — these are our means and with them we are ever ready to battle 
against the demon, hurl him down and cry victory in the name of the 
Ford. 

THE CHLORAL HABIT : ITS EFFECTS. 

After an apparent forgetfulness of the once famous hydrate of chloral, 
recent fatal doses seem to have awakened public interest in this powerful 
drug. I need not, says a well informed writer, describe it further than to 
say it is a salt of burning, pungent taste, having a great affinity for water; 
it is closely allied to chloroform, into which it is supposed to be changed 
in the blood. In small doses it is stimulant and anti-spasmodic, in larger 
narcotic, while an overdose quickly causes death by paralyzing the respira- 



THE SLAVERY OF CHLORAL. 73 

tory nerves. Like opium, the dose must be constantly increased to keep 
up the same effects. The stimulation, however, is not like that caused by 
opium or alcohol ; it is not exhilarating, and does not incite to action, 
either mentally or bodily. But the subject of the influence rises for a time 
above all his cares or sorrows or fatigue, and seems to look on life through 
the medium of a rose-tinted glass. But while care and sorrow are forgot- 
ten, and a dreamy sense of perfect ease, comfort and happiness take their 
place, all affection and love are likewise banished. The subject is apathet- 
ic, and cares for nothing, save his own sense of comfort. In this state the 
confirmed chloral-taker would stand by the deathbed of his nearest and 
dearest a passive spectator. If the same dose is repeated the victim 
either sleeps or shows signs of intoxication. 

"I know from experience," said a gentleman to a friend, "the work that 
chloral does. For many months on my return from business I found my 
poor wife drunk, and my children, who used to be so merry, silent and 
unhappy. But there was no smell of intoxicating liquor in the room or 
even about her breath, and all my efforts to unravel the mystery were un- 
availing. But one evening after tea she dropped from her chair while 
trying to speak to me — dropped like a log on the floor, and I carried her 
to bed. Her face \vas red and swollen, her lips blue ; her arms and legs 
were marble cold, even hard ; she had no pulse at the wrist, but breathed 
as quietly as an infant. I sat beside her all that long night. Toward 
morning the sleep was broken by moans and deep catching sighs, and 
when she awoke it w^as terrible to look upon her sufferings and agony. 
From the doctor's lips I first heard the name of chloral. She is now a 
nervous imbecile, and must, I fear, soon succumb to her infirmities." 
Yes, chloral is set moving in society, and thousands annually fall beneath 
its wheels. Let any reader of these w T ords ask any wholesale chemist, and 
he will be told that large quantities of this dangerous drug are annually 
imported (from Germany and other parts) winch are not prescribed by 
medical men, but taken as stimulants by the people themselves. Hydrate 
of chloral in every shape — unless exhibited by the hands of a skilled 
practitioner — is an insidious and fatal poison. It is more tempting than 
alcohol, more insidious than opium, and more terrible in its effects than 



74 FACTS FOR CHRISTIAN THINKERS. 

either. An opium-eater, baneful though the practice is, has been known 
to live to a goodly age; no chloral-taker ever lasted over three years. 

For all these pernicious appetites we recommend the same treatment 
as applied so successfully hitherto, and we promise the slaves of these 
drugs that if they look to Jesus He will save them, for He says, " He is 
able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him." We 
have had victims of all these appetites here, even within the past year — 
opium, morphine, chloral and cocaine alike — and were successful in each 
case, not through our own power, but in and through Him who has taught 
us to know that he is safe and will be healed forever who cries, " Not my 
will, but thine, O God, be done." 

A STAY HERE NOURISHES THE SOUL. 

It maybe asked why it is that a stay in this Institution is so conducive 
to effectual reformation, and, natural as I admit the question to be, just 
as easy do I find its answer. It is because here a man has an opportunity 
of entering into himself which it is scarcely possible for him to find while 
he remain amid the busy scenes of the outside or business world. In a 
round of idle amusements, or while permitting the mind to be occupied 
by business cares, it is beyond any man's power f o devote the time neces- 
sary to the one thing essential — securing his salvation. Secluded from 
distracting scenes, the single object pursued by an inmate of this Home 
is how best he may find redemption from his besetting sin, and he is di- 
rected to put forth one earnest, undivided effort to use all means afforded 
to effect permanent reformation and a Christian life. Then it is that 
Christ enters into the heart which has learned to trust Him fully, and then 
it is a man discovers that when he makes a complete surrender to his 
Saviour he is saved to the uttermost. A fountain of living water springs 
up in the heart of the redeemed sinner, and as he blesses the Lord for the 
salvation given him he finds that the taste of the waters of life has taken 
away, and forever, the thirst for strong drink. 

God keeps those who put their trust in Him, and those who seek 
Him earnestly leave this Home fully emancipated from the thrall of 
drunkenness. His grace is our cure-all — no nostrums, no patented hum- 



"A HARD SAYING; WHO CAN HEAR IT .' /J 

bugs, but Jesus, and Jesus only, places the man who submits his will and 
his body to our treatment upon the solid rock of an everlasting salvation. 
How many discouragements are to be found by the honest, devout 
teacher as he endeavors from time to time to lead the lost sinner out of 
his thraldom of sin. So many hindrances are presented, so many " hard 
sayings," as they are thought to be — so many difficulties are set up that if 
the teacher were not filled with Divine grace many times he would be 
wholly discouraged and give up in despair. Not that I would be found 
complaining ; but I must say that there is not a work in this city that has 
so many obstacles to contend with as this salvation of the intemperate. 

A CONFIDENT FAITH REQUIRED. 

We find so many unbelievers that at times our heart fails us. Many 
men enter our Home sick and tired of their lives of sin, and as the Gospel 
plan is presented it is eagerly grasped, fully satisfied that at last they have 
found the real panacea for all their ills. Their better judgment is con- 
A'inced of the truth as here set forth until a word is spoken in relation to 
some darling sin ; then at once we hear, " This is a hard saying ;" at 
once a murmur is heard. From this time no further advancement is made 
in the Christian life, and these poor souls on whom all eyes have been 
turned and hearts have been made to rejoice over, are filled with sadness 
and discouragement. Then come the chilling words from those whom you 
had been led to believe were true friends of the cause you were so faith- 
fully laboring in : " I thought it," " I have been thinking it might be just 
as I see it," kk I have feared this falling away," " I have doubted the genu- 
ineness of the work," "Many times I have had fearful forebodings" — of 
what, let me ask ? of what ? of the truth of God's word ? of the unfaith 
fulness of humanity ? Do not, I beg of you, whoever you may be, do not 
get discouraged. If this were not God's work, and these very truths 
taught in His word that we are experiencing, you would have reason to 
fear. But not so. Are we not taught in the 6th chapter of John that there 
were disciples of our Master who made use of these very words, " This is 
a hard saying ?" Yes, it is plain to any thoughtful reader that we are 
taught to expect a falling away, a turning back. Is it not taught us 
plainly by the Master " that it is not every one who saith Lord ! Lord ! 



i\) FACTS FOR CHRISTIAN THINKERS. 

that shall enter into the kingdom of heaven." But listen ; the promise is 
to the one "that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Is it 
not plainly taught us here that all disciples are not true believers ? Many 
to-day that are professing to be disciples of Christ, and have their names 
numbered with the true believers, and are called His disciples, have not, 
nor did they ever have, the real grace, the saving grace, which is the real 
gift of God, implanted in their hearts. We need not therefore be disap- 
pointed when we find men deceived, when we find men hypocritical. We 
must expect it ; it was so in our blessed Master's time ; it will be so in 
every age. Not all that are swept and garnished have received the saving- 
gifts into their swept and garnished bodies. Many men who come to this 
Home are convinced of the truth as taught here, and for atime become dis- 
ciples ; but as we have here stated, when the time for the "hard saying" 
comes, they say, "Who can hear it ?" To some, Christ's commandments 
will always be received as " a hard saying," and thus the evidence is sure 
they have never had a change of heart, they have never been born 
of God. 

THE SPIRIT QUICKENETH. 

It is just one of the many ways in which the natural corruption of 
man shows itself. "The carnal heart is enmity against God." What else 
can we expect but this from the unbeliever ? Therefore let none be dis- 
couraged, although many who profess turn back and go wallowing in 
the mire of dissipation and sin. If there were not a true and genu- 
ine coin you would never see a counterfeit. Let us take God's word, and 
I know the true believer will not be found saying, " Who can hear it ?" 
"It is the Spirit that quickeneth." It is the Holy Ghost who will give us 
an understanding heart. By His agency it is first imparted and afterward 
sustained and kept up, and unless it is imparted we need not expect it to 
endure. Jesus speaks to a believer, and says, "The words that I 
speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life." By this He 
would have us understand that unless His words and teachings 
are applied to the heart by the Holy Ghost, we need not be dis- 
appointed and discouraged when we see men falling who have been mem- 
bers of this Home or of Christian churches. Men may deceive men but 



TO FRIENDS OF THE INTEMPERATE. 77 

God they cannot deceive. He knows from the beginning who they are 
that truly believe and are born of God. Therefore be not discouraged 
oh ye of little faith. 

We would earnestly request you to persuade any relative or friend you 
have who is addicted to intemperance to take a look at this book and 
thereby ascertain the nature of our work. Tell him that he is invited, 
earnestly entreated, to forsake his sinful habits, and that we stretch out 
our hands to assist him, both to leave the ways of si 1 and misery and to 
walk in the paths of happiness now and evermore. Urge him in love to 
avail himself of the opportunity we offer him to regain his manhood. Show 
him that by thus giving practical evidence of his desire to cast off habits 
he abhors there is no cause for shame, no place for diffidence, but that all 
good and true people will sympathize with him in his earnest endeavors 
to retrieve the past and establish his future on a firmer basis. Endeavor 
to explain to him that by joining our band of temperance brothers he is 
not placing himself under any confinement whatever. The man whom 
we cannot retain in our midst by moral suasion, and by the influences of 
the surroundings that he will have in the Home, will, we fear, have but 
little hope for a change of life by any plan now known outside. At the 
same time, we would beg you to seek that he may realize the fact that it 
is only through God's grace he can ever hope to effect a radical, a perma- 
nent cure. It is to the foot of the Cross we shall direct his footsteps, 
there to cast off forever the burden of his guilt and misery. Every man 
who allows liquor on any occasion to get the mastery of him, is termed 
an inebriate or drunkard. A man who would feel the slightest pang at 
being compelled to relinquish the use of liquor fo r a season is in danger 
of ultimately becoming a drunkard, though he may now be but a moderate 
drinker; and in order to avoid such a fate it is his sacred duty to become 
a total abstainer. Many who know they have lost the control of them- 
selves by too frequent indulgence are anxious to conquer the habits they 
have contracted, have made many resolutions to amend their ways, have 
been successful in battling the evil in their own strength for a while, but 
have again yielded to temptation, and at each attempt, losing more 



78 FACTS FOR CHRISTIAN THINKERS. 

of their self-respect, they have drifted farther off on the road of self- 
indulgence, and sank deeper into the mire. And yet each one exclaims 
to himself, "What would I not give could I relinquish this terrible habit 
of intemperance !" Each one sees before his open eyes, with terror, a 
horrible future, a misspent life, a drunkard's grave. 

Our earnest wi«h is to assist such men to fight the good fight they are 
anxious to engage in, to lead them on to victory. For this object our Home 
has been established; here they can live in seclusion for awhile, away from 
all temptation, away from all that could allure them to paths of sin. And 
after they have regained their self-control, when their minds have become 
free from the pernicious associations that influence them, we wish to 
point out to them the way, the cnly way, for their sure and permanent cure. 
They know of their own experience that their will power, the combined 
influence of friends and relatives, were unable to restrain them permanent- 
ly ; perhaps they have given up all hopes of ever being cured. They 
have forgotten that God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten 
Son to save us, to save them ! — that Christ invites all who are weary and 
heavy laden to partake of His rest. Rest ! have they not craved for rest, 
longed for it, searched for it, and tried to obtain it by stupefying their 
brains with alcohol? Rest and peace are offered to them here — the peace of 
Christ, a peace which passeth all understanding. " Believe on the Lord 
Jesus Christ and you shall be saved." In this Friend of the friendless, 
Comforter of the comfortless, Forgiver of the penitent, and Guide of 
the erring, I find a greatness not to be found in any of the philosophers 
or teachers of the world. No voice in all the ages thrills me like that 
which whispers close to my heart, "Come unto me and I will give you 
rest," to which I answer, This is my Master, and I will follow Him. 

A MONUMENT OF MERCY. 

Before I close I would say, with the deepest gratitude to God, that I 
feel He has bestowed a precious gift upon me in the person of my co-work- 
er, Mr. J. L. Pulis. Nine years ago and over I took him from the streets of 
this city, given up by every one who knew him. He is now my Assistant, 
and through his teachings scores of lost ones have been saved. Truly is 




J. L. PULIS. 



MY CO-WORKER SPEAKS. 79 

he filled with love toward God and his fellow men, always ready and will- 
ing to do the Master's bidding. During a protracted illness of months 
by which I was confined to my bed, God wonderfully blessed his labors. 
Morning after morning for months he was enabled to sound forth the 
story of God's love to anxious and attentive listeners. 

God has especially blessed him in his work all through the past years, 
and while he has been enabled to water the souls of the thirsty ones, his 
own soul has been watered, and a growth in grace has been daily mani- 
fested. I know it will be pleasing to all. and read with interest, therefore 
I give you a part of one of his reports : — 

" It is with feelings of great humility and heartfelt gratitude, as the 
Assistant of Mr. Bunting, in the spiritual work of the Home, that I make 
an effort to say some few words of encouragement to the friends who 
have given to this Home their Christian sympathy, love, and support. 

" No one on earth has more reason to thank God for this Home, and 
all connected with it, than myself. 

''Here I found a home when every other home was closed against me. 
Here I found a father and a friend, when father and friends had forsaken 
me. Here, blessed be God, I found Jesus the mighty to save. Here I 
found a precious means of grace and holy and hallowed influences, and to 
this Home, under God, I owe all for what I am as a Christian man. My 
heart fills with joy when I stand before the world a representative of 
Jesus and the Christian Home, and for years I have been holding them 
side by side by my testimony and life. 

"As Assistant I have been put in charge of a portion of the devotional 
exercises of the Home. We have a prayer-meeting every afternoon, all 
the year round, and let me say, as I lead the meeting, a few things about 
it. Nearly every member of the Home takes a part in this exercise, and 
I mention this for it is not a very common thing in prayer-meetings- 
Every one who has professed to be saved sends out the desires of his heart 
to God, and while we take to God the very details of our life, both per- 
sonal and the Home interest, our great desire is that we may be filled with 
the Holy Spirit ; for nothing is taught more plainly in the Home than 
that everv believing child of God should seek the fulness of the blessing 



SO FACTS FOR CHRISTIAN THINKERS. 

of the Holy Ghost, that we may pray aright, talk aright, and live aright, 
and in answer to these prayers the entire Home is made the house of God 
and the very gate of Heaven. Another striking feature of this meeting is 
v the mutual influence. The rich and pcor not only meet together, but pray 
one for the other, obeying the Divine injunction, ' Love as brethren, be 
courteous, let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edifica- 
tion.' We are all on one level: ' Let the brother of low degree rejoice 
in that he is exalted, but the rich in that he is made low.' Here our sym- 
pathy, love, and prayers all blend, and make us all one in Christ Jesus, 
and thus we promote holiness in the hearts of all the members, that they, one 
by one, may go forth from the Home to live consistent, useful Christian 
lives, as ornaments to society and pillars in God's church. 

" Beside this prayer-meeting, we have one or two other things that give 
us great encouragement and comfort. When we ask these men to give up 
their tobacco, you would be astonished to see with what willingness they 
comply, and what an ardent desire they manifest to rid themselves of this 
great idol also, as we explain to them that it is a rule of the Home, a safe- 
guard against temptation, and, above all, a very important thing to full 
consecration, and a step out from darkness into the light and liberty of 
the Gospel of Jesus Christ; thus leaving them disenthralled from every 
yoke of bondage. 

"Another blessed source of comfort is to find these men always ready 
to give an answer to every man that asketh a reason for the hope that is 
within them, and as I have the pleasure of getting a written reason, or 
testimony, from each one before he leaves the Home, my heart is often 
made unspeakably happy as I read the depth of love, soundness of mind, 
and comprehension of the truth in the expression of these newborn babes 
in Christ, and I am often made to exclaim, Our God is a wonder-working 
God. 

" I could say a great many more grand and good things in connection 
with the Home and its work, as it comes to my notice in the position I 
hold ; it is enough to say and know that it is God's Home and work: and 
as such we still hope, trust, and pray that the same interest, love, and 
prayers will be given it in the future as have been manifested in the past. 



MADE FREE, AND FOREVER. 81 

"God and His children have dealt very bountifully with us in the days 
gone by, and goodness and mercy have followed us all these days. Let 
us send up one universal song of praise by saying, ' Blessing, and honor, 
and glory, and power, be unto Him who sitteth upon the throne and the 
Lamb forever and forever. Amen.' " 

CAN THE DRUNKARD BE SAVED ? 

The conversion of Mr. Pulis is perhaps one of the best answers to the 
above question. When he came here no more miserable being could be 
found in New York. He was an utter wreck in body and in character, but 
when he applied for admission he did so with the true spirit. He came with 
a contrite heart, seeking a Saviour, and He who came to seek and to save 
lifted the prodigal to His heart, and there he is safe forever. At our first in- 
terview Mr. Pulis said: "I have been a constant drinking man for ten years. 
Five years of that time I was considered a moderate drinker. At the end 
of my moderate drinking I found that I had become a drunkard. I went 
quickly from bad to worse. I was soon abandoned by all my friends; the 
doors of mv father's house were closed to me, and everyone refused to see 
me or recognize me as a relative or acquaintance. To-day in a Gospel tem- 
perance meeting I heard a testimony from a regenerated man who had 
been a drunkard longer than myself. He said that there was help for 
every one. If that is so, I may yet find Christ. I want to be saved, if 
God will accept such a miserable sinner as I am. I come to this Home 
hopeless, friendless, and ready to die " 

We assured him of the Saviour's promise, kk I come to seek and save 
that which was lost," and soon we had the privilege of hearing his voice 
in our meetings. I remember after his return, the first day after he was 
allowed to go out by himself, as he stood up in one of our meetings, his 
testimony was : "Oh, how I praise God to-night to know that I am free ! 
I passed a liquor saloon to-day, and had no desire to go in. ' I am free ! 
I am free !' I exclaimed, and began singing the Doxology." He is free. 
Christ has made him free, and he is known all over this city as a monu- 
ment of God's saving mercv. 



S2 FACTS FOR CHRISTIAN THINKERS. 

My own views on the evils attending the tobacco habit find strong- 
confirmation in the .views of Mr. Palis. He also was under the do- 
minion of the weed as well as of the cup. He praises God for 
the deliverance granted him, and he treats tobacco and alcohol as 
twin or almost co-ordinate evils. His matured opinion on the use 
of tobacco and the results attending such use is best expressed in his own 
words, and coming from such a source, coming from a man who is, as I 
well know, taught by the Spirit of God, should be carefully weighed by 
every one who aspires to Christian practice and desires Christian perfec- 
tion. He says : 

" I think that all well-informed Bible Christians will concede that the 
arguments against the use of alcohol apply with almost equal force to 
the use of tobacco, as corrupting, blunting and debasing the moral and 
spiritual faculties. Those who are in bondage to any evil habit should 
especially remember the Apostle's declaration to lay aside everything that 
can hinder or retard our progress, or the progress of others, in the spirit- 
ual life. Manifestly, then, any indulgence or practice which is demoraliz- 
ing in its tendency is a violation of the spirit and letter of God's word, 
and cannot be tolerated by a consistent Christian. 

"The Scriptures teach us that though we may be able to indulge with 
safety in certain pleasures, yet if our example prove a stumbling-block to 
a weak brother, we are bound to deny ourselves for his sake, failing 
which, we deny Christ, our great example. Thus truth, like a two-edged 
sword, cuts both ways, lopping off the sinful practice or trunk, and the 
selfish motive which is at the root of the indulgence. 

" The sinful waste of money, and the injury to body, mind, and soul 
involved in even the moderate use of tobacco or alcoholic stimulants, or 
both, stamps the twin habits with the brand of about equal sinfulness, 
though the latter is more destructive and far-reaching in its consequences, 
So bound was I by this tobacco habit, and so enslaved by the appetite, 
that, even after I had become a Christian, I trembled at the very thought 
of giving up my idol, notwithstanding the stings of conscience and the 
strivings of the Holy Spirit. Then came the crisis — Jesus or my idol. 
The words came to me, 'He that is unjust, let him be unjust still.' ' He 



DFX" I DING FOR JESUS. 83 

that is filthy, let him be filthy still.' I decided for Jesus, and from that 
moment I became altogether a free man. 

" It seems to me that all those who are born of God must realize the 
importance and necessity of wholly abandoning the use of tobacco as well 
as alcohol, not only for their own good and safety, but on the higher 
ground of the good of others, which their Christian example will tend to 
promote. The use of tobacco, it is well known, blunts the moral sensibili- 
ties, dulls the intellect, and not infrequently ends in paralysis of the body. 

kk What right have we to wantonly impair, and even destroy, our moral r 
mental, and physical faculties, which were given to us to employ to the 
glory of God and for the good of our fellow-beings? 

k Tf any professing Christian addicted to the use of tobacco believes that 
the evils and sin of this habit have been exaggerated, let him yield himself 
up wholly to the influence of the Divine Spirit, let him lay hold of the 
substance of Christ's teachings, and he will then perceive the gross selfish- 
ness of this demoralizing habit. 

" I have been constrained to venture these convictions concerning the 
fatal tendencies of this all-prevailing vice, and the pernicious influence 
which professing Christians exert by the power of their example, by an 
earnest desire to impress them upon others as I believe the Lord Jesus 
Christ has impressed them upon my soul." 

A FAITHFUL OFFICIAL. 

I seize this opportunity to publicly testify my appreciation of the ser- 
vices rendered The New York Christian Home by Mr. E. M. Hayes, in 
his official position, and many a heart in this Institution will join me in 
praising him for his untiring efforts to make each one feel that when en- 
tering here he is indeed "coming home." Courteous to all, his kind treat- 
ment of each person endears him to those with whom he is brought in 
contact, and of him I may truly say that the milk of Christian politeness 
is the cherished nourishment of a soul rejoicing in the urbanities of the 
Lord. 

god's keeping power. 

Approaching the end of this labor of love for Christ's sake, I feel my- 
self impelled to say a few words in behalf of God's keeping power. One 



84 FACTS FOR CHRISTIAN THINKERS. 

of the most difficult things to have fully realized by even some professing 
Christians in connection with the work of this Home is the fact that so 
many of the men here lifted from " out of a horrible pit, out of the miry 
clay," remain steadfast. These good people, who wuuld feel as if highly 
insulted were they called "doubting Thomases," by the very fact that it is 
difficult to have them believe in the permanent character of the reforma- 
tion here effected, imply a doubt in the efficacy of God's keeping power. 
I have had even a minister of the Gospel, a doctor of divinity, so utterly 
confounded at a visit he made here by the earnest, reverential attitude 
of the men in one of our meetings, that he asked, " What is it keeps these 
men ?" and was dazed, as it were, when I quietly replied, " The grace of 
God." But is not His grace all sufficient? Did not Jesus come to save 
sinners ? and in the category of sins drunkenness is no more specified or 
singled out than adultery and murder. Hence it is clear that as "he that 
heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting 
life, and shall not come unto judgment, but is passed from death unto life," 
it is as reasonable to assume salvation for the drunkard who repents and 
believes as it is for any other sinner who is prompted to go " and do like- 
wise." It is true that the determination of Satan to tempt is in no wise 
abridged by the resolution of the Christian to pray that the will of the 
Father may be done on earth as it is in heaven ; but the ability of the 
devil to effect his fell purposes is limited by that immutable pledge of the 
everlasting God, narrated by the Apostle Paul in the 13th verse of the 
10th chapter of his first epistle to the Corinthians : " There hath no temp- 
tation taken you but such as is common to man ; but God is faithful, who 
will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the 
temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." 

" Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out," and " Though 
your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow," and " I will never 
leave thee nor forsake thee " — these are promises of God the fidelity of 
which cannot be doubted by those who see in Jesus "the light of the 
world," who recognize in Him "a friend that sticketh closer than a 
brother," who acknowledge that He is the substitute " who His own self 
bare our sins.' 




HOW THE DRUNKARD IS SAVED. 85 

The unfortunate drunkard says, "I will arise, and go to my father." 
He goes to the Father through Jesus. He has the promise of abundant 
pardon. He looks into the face of God and cries, "Though he slay me, yet 
will I trust Him." He learns that " The Lord is nigh unto them that are 
of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." He hears 
the voice of God affirming that " Whosoever shall call upon the name of 
the Lord shall be saved." He calls upon the Lord. The precious gift of 
saving faith is given him, and, no longer relying on himself or any human 
person or human thing, he leaps where " underneath are the everlasting 
arms," exultingly singing hosannas to the Son of David, knowing at last 
that justification has come "by His grace, through the redemption that is 
in Christ Jesus." 

Dare any one say that when a poor drunkard thus throws himself upon 
God that salvation is not at hand ! No ; the man who thus seeks release 
from alcohol or any other besetting sin knows that he is saved. He knows 
it because " he that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself " 
that he has entered among those who " are sanctified through the offering 
of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." He knows it because as "by 
one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified," so " this 
is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the 
Lord ; I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write 
them ; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." He knows 
it as I know it, by personal experience and daily observation. He knows 
it because he fully realizes that "If any man be in Christ, he is a new crea- 
ture ; old things are passed away, behold all things are become new," 
and while the salvation which Christ has worked in the regenerated man 
works out he goes on his way rejoicing, free in "the glorious Gospel of 
the blessed God," crying out with the sweet singer of Israel, "I will sing 
praises unto my God while I have my being," because, " The Lord is my 
defence, and rock of my refuge." 

Yes, as the man, once a wretched slave of alcohol, opium, morphine or 
cocaine, but now a child of God, goes forth, hearkening to the voice of 
the Spirit which whispers, " Fear thou not, for I am with thee ; be not 
dismayed, for I am thy God : I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee, 



8b FACTS FOR CHRISTIAN THINKERS. 

yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness," he sings 
these words, which consecrate his will forever : 

Laid on Thine altar. O my Lord divine. 

Accept my gift this day for Jesus* sake ; 
I have no jewels to adorn Thy shrine, 

Nor any world-famed sacrifice to make. 
But here I bring within my trembling hand 

This will of mine — a thing that seemeth small. 
And only Thou, dear Lord, can'st understand 

How when I yield Thee this, I yield mine all. 
Hidden therein, Thy searching eye can see 

Struggles of passion, visions of delight, 
All that I love, or am. or fain would be — 

Deep loves, fond hopes, longings indefinite. 
It hath been wet with tears and dimmed with sighs, 

Clenched in my grasp till beauty it hath none. 
Now from Thy footstool, where it vanquished lies. 

The prayer ascendeth, may Thy will be done. 
Take it, O Father, ere my courage fail, 

And merge it so in Thine own will, that e'en 
If in some desperate hour my cries prevail, 

And Thou give back my gift, it may have been 
So changed, so purified, so fair have grown. 

So one with Thee, so filled with peace divine, 
I may not know or feel it as mine own, 

But gaining back my will may find it Thine. 
Yes ! God's keeping power is omnipotent as His saving power, and 
from out this Home we have sent hundreds of men who, as they are and 
prove themselves, witnesses of His word in time will be confessed by 
Jesus before the Father's throne and enjoy all the unspeakable, inconceiv- 
able beauties of the Beatific vision for all eternity. 

VISIT US AND SEE. 

A visit to the Home will give you a true insight to all its workings. As 
before stated, we hold services on Saturday evening, to which the public are 
cordially invited. Our statistical tables will be interesting to the inquirer, 
and will be found to be simply wonderful in their conclusions. Our meetings 
are continued without interruption all through the warm weather. From the 



TO GOD BE ALT THE PRAISE. 87 

outset the work has been a constant surprise to those interested, not only 
as regards its magnitude, but also as regards the readiness with which 
these men are brought under Christian influences and led to a better 
life. It is not possible to tell all the story of the Home, but it has more 
than justified the wisdom of those who organized it, and been the means 
of bringing joy and gladness to many sad hearts. From June 7th, 1877, 
to the present time, June 7th, 1887, it has cared for 2,222 men, not mod- 
erate drinkers, but drunkards and other intemperate men in bondage to 
appetites no less vile, such as morphine or cocaine. Many of these men 
were needy, destitute, friendless, and of them the great majority are to-day 
saved men, supporting themselves and their families. 

The Home has thus far only in part been self-supporting ; those of 
the inmates who are pecuniarily able have paid a reasonable amount for 
board. The deficiencies have been made up by those earnest friends who 
have had faith in the object and methods of the Institution. 

PARTING WORDS. 

In bidding adieu to those who have been, I trust, not wholly uninter- 
ested readers of the foregoing pages, I desire to draw special attention to 
the appencled statistical tables, letters from former members of the Home, 
anti- tobacco items, bequests and funds, obituary notices, newspaper no- 
tices and other supplementary matter, all of which serve to strengthen the 
views herein advanced and cause hearts to glow with gratitude to God, to 
Whom for all His unspeakable gifts to us be praise, honor, and glory, 
given now and forever. Amen. 




88 



SUPPLEMENTARY MATTER. 



From June 

Whole number of men received. . 



STATISTICAL TABLES. 
th, 1877, to June 7th, 



1887 



NATIONALITIES. 



United States 


1,602 


Great Britain 


'474 


trance 


i 


Germany 


45 


Canada 


69 


Asia 


3 


Holland 


2 


Switzerland 

Denmark . 


4 

2 


South America. . 


2 


Greece . 


1 


Sweden 


6 


West Indies 


3 


Cuba 


1 


Porto Rico 


1 





OCCUPATIONS. 

Actors, 14: Army officers, 6 20 

Architects, 1; Book-keepers, 147. . . .148 
Brokers, 63; Civil engineers, 24.... 87 

Clerks and salesmen .069 

Clergymen, 18; Druggists. 31 49 

Deputy Sheriffs, 3; Engravers, 15.. 18 
Farmers, 3; Hotel proprietors, 17. . 20 

Journalists, 48; Lawyers, 85 133 

Liquor dealers 8 

Manufacturers 49 

Mechanics and trades 398 

Merchants 1 75 

Miscellaneous 202 

Musicians, 5; Naval officers, 14.... 19 

Phvsicians 65 

Printers 88 

Policemen 6 

R. C. Priests 7 

Soldiers 3 

Sailors 20 

Surveyors 1 

Teachers 22 

Telegraph operators, 15 



2 222 



Pay members 785 

Part pay members 92 

Free members 1 ,345 



Single 1,101 

Married 708 

Separated *413 



Of these 2,222 men no less than 1,878 professed to be converted, while, so far 
as can be ascertained at present writing, 1,434 have remained steadfast. 

Average time of drinking, 18 years, 9 months. Average time of excessive 
drinking, 8 years, 10 months. 

215 chewed tobacco, 578 smoked, and 1,043 both chewed and smoked. 
1760 obtained situations. 

From the record kept from the year 1880 to 1886 respectively, we find that 
1142 had either a Christian father or mother, and in many instances both parents 
were Christians. 

Only one-sixth had intemperate parents, thus shewing the fallacy of inherited 
appetite. 

Two-thirds claimed that associations were the cause of their drinking. 

* As near as we have been able to ascertain, 200 of tbese families have been reunited. 




LETTERS FROM FORMER MEMBERS. SO 

From the mass of correspondence received here from those who were 
redeemed, regenerated, and disenthralled in our Home, renewed in their 
manhood, emancipated from the bondage of alcohol, opium, morphine, 
and tobacco, and planted firmly on the truly good soil of Christ's all- 
embracing salvation, we select the following, written at different times 
and in various places, but all confessing the glory of Jesus, mighty to 
save, and thanking The New York Christian Home for its labors as the 
zealous instrument in God's hand to fill hearts and homes with that peace 
which passeth all understanding : 

I'his man was for many years an importer of diamonds and watches in this city. One of our first 
merchants. Married an estimable lady. Lived in affluence. When he came to me was the picture of 
despair. No home, no friends. Deserted by all. He was saved in this Home. Came to me June 7, 1877. 

Mystic Bridge, Ct., Sept., 3, 1877. 
My Dear Friend: 

I have been intending to write yon every day since the receipt of your kind 
favor of 21st ult., but now I can inform you that I have commenced in an open 
manner to work for our Lord and Master. My pastor has .called on me. and I 
showed him your letters and also told him of the great work you were engaged 
in. I spoke in last Sabbath praise-meeting, as also the week previous, and have 
entered the Bible-class of the Sunday-school. I also attended the Thursday 
evening prayer-meeting at a private house, so that now I have got fairly started 
I shall go on all right. To put myself in proper manner before the old Christians 
here I had to tell my story or I should have felt as if I was deceiving them. It 
did ii' >t seem honest for me not to do it. and now I feel better and am glad I did 
so. I forgot to say that I attended the Y. M. C. A. meetings, and spoke there, 
and shall continue to speak for our Saviour, who saves to the nctermost all who 
will believe on Him. I took up smoking for a while after coming here, but I 
have absolutely left tobacco for good this time. I know it is a great risk to us 
and that it is wrong for me to smoke. I have stopped it now for all time to 
come. 

It was pleasant for me to read of the Home that all have been steadfast. I 
pray every day that God will make them strong and enable them to remain true 
to the end. Your friend in Christ, * 



90 SUPPLEMENTARY MATTER, 

A victim of despair and wretchedness. Left to die in the streets of our city. A good Samaritan recom- 
mended him here. Left us a true Christian. Came to us September 3, 1878. 

Boston, October 11, 1878. 

Do not think I have forgotten you, or the dear Christian Home I pray for 
daily. 

Since I left you, God has given me grace to withstand all temptations, and 
with truth I can say I have not tasted liquor or tobacco in any form. T ask an 
interest in your prayers that I may grow stronger day by day. 

Please remember me most kindly to your dear wife ; also Brothers T and 

I . 

To-day I secured a position with a firm to travel South and West, a trial trip 
of three months. Yours, most truly, 

A noble young man. From a western city of this State. " I came to be saved," as he said. All 
were in love with him for his noble Christian example while here. Came to us May 24, 1878. 

E , N. Y., October 19, 1878. 

Dear Sir : — I am not sure that I have a really good reason for not writing 
you before, so I will not bring condemnation on myself by attempting to frame 
an excuse. I have not refrained from writing you because absence and distance 
had begotten indifference, for I am sure not a day has passed that I have not 
thought of you with the keenest sense of gratitude. Not a day has passed that I 
have not regularly remembered the Home and its beloved Manager in my hours 
uf prayer. I could hardly express the deep sense of gratefulness that fills my 
soul toward you as I remember how plainly you led me to that Christ who has 
since been so precious to my soul. What should I do without the presence, com- 
fort and guidance of that dear Saviour ? His Spirit has so dwelt in my soul since 
I left the sacred influence of the Home that even the thought of faltering has not 
occurred to me. My hours of private devotion are most precious seasons to me. 
There I lay in my supplies of strength, and there the Spirit witnesseth with my 
spirit that I am born of God. As I was in the habit of saying to the friends of 
the Home, I now say, " I'm on the rock/' Truly my goings are established. I 
am trusting in my Saviour. He comforts me daily. The yoke is easy and the 
burden is light. How shall I ever be thankful enough to that God whose loving 
Spirit led my steps to your Home ! 

How often I pray God's blessing on you, dear Brother Bunting, and on your 
grand mission. You being my spiritual father, it seems as if my life now dates 
from my entrance at the Home. A mighty burden of sin and guilt has been 
rolled away, and a precious rest and light have flowed in and filled my heart. All 
things have appeared so bright since I have been home. I have been received 
with such tokens of confidence and affection by my friends and acquaintances 



LETTERS FROM FORMER MEMBERS. 91 

here that it is no wonder things have a brighter coloring for me. For all this I 
give praise to Gocl. He has enabled me so far to discharge every duty that has 
been made plain to me. and by His precious grace I expect to remain victor to 
the end. He has answered my prayers since I have been home in almost a mi- 
raculous manner. In truth I am trying to dedicate all my gifts and possibilities, 
all I have and am, to the service of the Lord Jesus Christ — to take all good 
things He may send me with grateful humility, and all chastenings which His 
love may impose with the same spirit. I rejoice in His love this morning. He 
whispers peace in my soul. I remember and pray for your meeting this Satur- 
day evening. God bless the young men of the Home ! And God bless you. my 
beloved friend and brother in Christ, with a most precious outpouring of His 
grace and comfort into your soul. 

I know how anxious and troubled you were at times. I pray that, as these 
responsibilities weigh upon you, your soul may be most sweetly sustained by the 
precious consolations which Christ alone can bring to His children. 

Give my love to all. Yours affectionately. 

This man came to me a perfect scoffer. Had not been in a church for over twenty years. Apparently 
a hopeless case. The Holy Spirit softened his heart. He became a true and devoted Christian. Came to 
us in October, 1879. 

X. Y. . December 5. 1879. 
My Dear Brother : 

Your very welcome letter was duly received : it brought me great joy. To 

hear from you all is truly a pleasure. I received one from Brother B.. who said 

that you had a good time Thanksgiving Day, though I would like to have been 

present. Do you know that it is just two months ago to-day that I first made my 

appearance at the Christian Home — GooVs Home — my Home — and I hope that the 

day is not far distant when I shall make my reappearance: you do not know how 

much I miss our Wednesday and Saturday evening reunions. I hope that you 

will remember me to them all, for God knows that I remember you all every 

night and morning in my prayers. As there are those in the Home I have never 

known personally, tell them of my case, assure them that it is only with the love 

of our Saviour that they can be saved . If they will put their trust in Jesus Christ 

He will never forsake them, for He has not forgotten even me, the poor miserable 

sinner that I was. No : He died to save us all. Have faith, brothers, and you 

will all surely be saved. One night this week two of my old acquaintances called 

upon me at my hotel and sent up their cards. I went to the office and sat down to 

chat with them. The first thing was. "Come, let's have a drink." I said. "I have 

taken my last drink some time ago.'" "Well, then have a cigar.'" %, I neither smoke 

nor drink." Well, they were disappointed, /was delighted. I still continue to 



92 SUPPLEMENTARY MATTER. 

attend the Y. M. C. A. They have very interesting meetings. I wish you would 
ask my good Brother McB. of the Y. M. C. A. , who directed my wife to the Chris- 
tian Home, if he will send me a letter of introduction to the Secretary of the 
Y. M. C. A. here. Please give him the heartfelt thanks of myself and wife, also 
to Mrs. B. and all. Write soon. Yours, &c. , * 

A godless man, a scoffer. His wife came to the Home and remained a week with him. At one of our 
morning Bible readings the Holy Spirit gained admittance to his heart. I was in conversation with him 
over two hours. Had not read a word in the Bible for twenty-seven years. As soon as he was saved he 
rushed out of my room to his own, and there on his knees begged for salvation for his wife. D;ed in full 
trust of God's promises. Came to us October 5, 18T9. 

Xy., Nov. 23, 1830. 

My Dear Mr. Bunting : 

Your very welcome letter was forwarded to me from S . My address is 

as above, and has been since last Spring. Well, you ask how I am getting along 
in the good way. I can assure you, first-rate; since I entered the Christian Home 
I have not used a profane word. I have said raj prayers night and morn, never 
once forgetting the Home and all its inmates. Neither have I drank a drop of 
anything stronger than tea or coffee. Neither have I used tobacco in any form. 

I wish J. S could say the same, but my opinion is that he does it more for 

an advertisement than for the love of it. The man you spoke of, J. P , was 

never in my company, but with my brother. I am very glad to learn that he has 
reformed. I sent you a paper the other day, giving you an account of my busi- 
ness. I am doing exceedingly well. So you can see what letting rum alone lias 
done for me. Just say to my unfortunate brothers to do as I have done — let rum 
alone — lead a good Christian life — go to church on Sundays — and God will do the 
rest. Please remember me to each and every one; tell them that I think of them 
and the Home often. This indeed ought to be a Thanksgiving week with me, and 
my friends also. I shall be pleased to hear from you soon. My wife is here with 

me, and together with myself, send our kind regards to Mrs. B . 

Sincerely yours, 

I met this man in one of our Gospel meetings. He was all gone. Had given up all hope. Wanted 
to be saved if the day of redemption had not passed. Was in earnest. Asked God to hear his praye-, 
"God be merciful to me a sinner." It was answered. He is a wonderful work of grace. Canii to me 
November 14, 1880. 

New York, August 17, 1881. 
Dear Mr. Bunting : 

I thought I would give you another letter as I promised. I have nothing new 
to write about, but an interchange of thoughts and feelings sometimes brings 
great good to our hearts. Everything moves along very pleasantly, and the good 



LETTERS FROM FORMER MEMBERS. 93 

old promise is fulfilled day by day, that all things work together for good to them 
that love God and are called according to His purpose. 

I nmst say, Jesus and His salvation never were more precious than now. I 
behold Him in all His beauty and power in my own salvation. Ah, think what 
boundless love and what matchless grace could save a wretch like me ! and I am 
saved, and I know it, blessed be God the Father, the Son. and the Holy Ghost. It 
took the entire Godhead to do it, but it is an entire and complete salvation. 
Who wants anything better ? I don't : it is for time and eternity. What more 
can I ask ? Nothing. Glory to the Triune God. I have life more abundantly ! 
full of joy, peace, and perfect satisfaction, and hereafter everlasting bliss, com- 
panionship of Abraham. Isaac, and Jacob, and all the heavenly host forever and 
forever. 

O my dear Brother, exhort everybody to come and join this holy band, and 
on to glory go. Tell them how God saved me. even me. When friends forsook 
me, society hurled me out, relations disowned me, and all. with one consent, put 
aside all efforts to save, and concluded I was past hope or redemption, and one 
united shout went forth. " Let him alone. *' O blessed Jesus, O blessed Holy 
Spirit that directed. Oh blessed Christian Home. Oh blessed man of God, that 
pointed me to the Lamb of God ! Oh, my heart is bursting with joy and praise ; 
Glory to God forever and ever. Give my love to all. 

Yours affectionatelv, . 



This was indeed a wonderful salvation. He was in despair. A perfect wreck, physically and morally. 
His wife, as you see, was in despair. She was a R. C. Through his conversion his wife was saved. His 
testimony is heard often in our Saturday evening meetings— the letter-carrier — Every one rejoices when he 
testifies. Came to us November 2, 1331 . 

New York. November 2, 1882. 
Mr. Chas. A, Bunting : 

Dear Sir : — It is with pleasure that I write this letter to you. One year ago 
1 3-day my husband and I went to your "Christian Home" in Seventy-eighth 
Street ; when I left him that day I was very discouraged, for I had no hope it 
would do any good. He had tried so many times to stop drinking before and 
failed. He told me himself, after being there three clays, it was no use. he could 
not do without drinking rum. I left him that evening, feeling worse than ever. 
Before I had seen him again he was changed so much that I could not believe he 
was telling me the truth, because I was sure that nothing but a miracle, done by 
God. could save him. He told me then that he did not know himself how it was: 
but that, before going to bed the night before, he had asked God very earnest ly 
to take the desire away from him. and in less than a minute he felt sure he was 
answered. He went to bed. and slept well for the first time in months : and 



94 SUPPLEMENTARY MATTER. 

getting up the next morning, he was surprised to find the desire and appetite 
all gone. I think it was just as great a miracle as I ever read of in the Bible. 
He has not only been saved from rum, but he has become a good man every way. 
I only wish I was as good. And our boy has also been spared to us through the 
prayers offered up in your blessed Home for him. I feel sure of this, because 
eight of our best doctors in this city had given him up, and said he could not be 
cured : so you may know, Mr. Banting, that it is with heartfelt gratitude to you 
for your interest in him that I write this to you. We have troubles, of course, for 
I have been sick a great deal lately, but it makes no difference to my husband: he 
is better and more steadfast every day. 

I thank God that he put it into the hearts of those gentlemen to build such a 
Home, for they have made many wives' and mothers' hearts happy. I hope by 
the time you receive this you will have recovered from your illness. 

I also thank Mr. H. for his many encouraging words to me and my husband, 
and also Mr. Pulis. Yours respectfully. . 



A gentleman by birth and education. A lawyer by profession. Had not drawn a sober breath for 
six months previous to his entering our Home. Gave himself without reserve to Jesus. Was saved, and 
from the day he arrived in his own city has been a worker in Christ's vineyard. Came to us Dec. 31, 1882. 

Washington, D, C. Sept. 18th, 1883. 
Dear Bro. Bunting : — ... Oh ! how I praise and adore the blessed Lord 
for what He has done for a poor sinner like me. Dear Bro. Bunting, there is not 
a day of my life that I do not take from my pocket-book the precious talisman, 
the ever-present pasteboard you gave me at the Home, and read those blessed 
words : "When tempted or tried, either in prosperity or adversity, honor God by 
declaring at once. * Jesus saves me now,' " and to this may I not. in all truth and 
soberness, ascribe my unyielding faith in the precious Master and my steadfast 
adherence to a Christian life ? I have no love for the world per se. for there 
is nothing in it (I have tried it to the uttermost) that can give absolute satisfac- 
tion to the weary soul of man. I never again desire to love the world. 
Its dreams, its songs, its lies : 
They who have followed in its train are not 
The true, and good, and wise. 

The wise and good. 
They choose the better part : 
To the true world that is to come they give 
The true and single heart. 



LETTERS FROM FORMER MEMBERS. 95 

I am striving the best I know how to set my affections on things above 
where Jesus sitteth at the right hand of God, to make intercession for me and 
to plead my cause at the bar of heaven. In the case of our fallen friend 
whose name I have written sorrowfully we are forcibly reminded that it is 
too true that "No man can serve two masters/' for " whosoever is the friend of 
the world is the enemy of God.'' In conclusion I will add that I am laboring to 
the best of the powers with which I have been endowed by my Creator to work 
in the vineyard of the Lord, and have chosen as my field the grand and noble 
cause of Gospel Temperance, and as long as my strength endures and health con- 
tinues by the gracious favor and support of Almighty God, it is my unalterable 
purpose to do battle in that holy cause, and may God speed the work and enable 
me to do something toward the reforming, the saving, and keeping reformed and 
saved precious souls who stand so much in need thereof. Your weak but earnest 
Brother hi Christ, . 



This man was brought here in the morning after sleeping in the park. A thorough gentleman. By 
education qualified for any position. Became a minister of the Gospel, and is now doing well. Came to us 
September 26, 1882. 

. Mass.. March 14. 1884. 

My Dear Mr. Bunting :— _*-—*-■_******** 

In my judgment you give no instruction in your daily services that is 
more important than the plain, practical and earnest lessons on the use of tobac- 
co. It is true, members frequently complain of your constant warning against 
its use after leaving the Home. They seem to think that they know better than 
you ; that their temperament or constitution are different from those who have 
made the same trial and miserably failed. After one day's use of tobacco, I am 
alarmed, sad and trembling as to 'the future. This few hour's use of the poison 
lias again aroused all of the old gnawing and thirstings for drink. God alone can 
prevent this horrible sequel, and to Him must I flee for succor. In my judgment, 
tobacco is the most powerful yet secret agent of the devil in leading one back to 
the intoxicating drink. I care not whether it is the tobacco itself, or "letting 
down the bars." one thing is certain, it is a compromise. Manhood, temperance, 
a strictly honorable life with God. are all compromised when we again use that 
from which we once broke loose and admitted to be treacherous. 

I write tliis from a sad experience and to warn in a kind, Christian but de- 
cided manner those who are now in the Christian Home, and who do not fully 
and conscientiously agree to these thoughts so rapidly and briefly suggested. 
I am, with great respect, your obedient servant, . 



9(3 SUPPLEMENTARY MATTER. 

Opium and Alcohol. — In despair, with no hope, this man came to us one afternoon with his nephew 
He was filled with opium. He denied having taken any that day. I afterward found secreted about one- 
half an ounce in his clothes. Read his own story. Came to us March 6, 1884. 

Conn., June 29, 1884. 
Dear Mr. Bunting : 

As you know, I became an inmate of The New York Christian Home three 
months ago, and when I entered it I was a moral and physical wreck. I was a 
slave to the use of opium, and that, together with rum and tobacco, had under- 
mined my health and left my reason waning in the balance. So bad had I 
become that my case by many was considered hopeless. I cannot recall any 
perceptible improvement in my case until I had been there nearly two weeks. I 
was called into the Manager's room and there was taught the true way to be 
cured. The remedy is simply Jesus Christ and Him crucified and risen. The 
teachings were presented to my mind so plainly that I could not help understand- 
ing them. 

I shall ever bless God that I was led to this Home, for I feel confident that I 
could be saved in no other way. I had tried all earthly remedies, but of no avail. 
My friends now, as I meet them, stop me and ask, 4 * Is it possible this is you*r ,, 
They see so much improvement in me that it does not seem possible that it can 
be the same man they saw six months ago. Well, I tell them they must give God 
the glory and the Christian Home the credit. I cannot refrain from saying a 
word in regard to the management of the Home. I am convinced that in no 
other place (known now to me) could a class of men such as are found there be 
cured of their malady, as in no other place would they get the teaching as we get 
i: there. We listen day after day to Bible lessons by the Manager, and he always 
has something new, and not only that, but it is given to us in so plain a manner 
that the simplest can understand and the wisest cannot refute. I do think this is 
not fully understood by those outside the Home, and feel confident that when 
this is rightly understood the Home will not be large enough to hold those that 
will seek an entrance through its door. May God bless and prosper the Home is 
my prayer. I am to-day a monument of its fruits and blessings. Freed from the 
curse of opium and drink, reason restored and health good, can I ever bless God 
enough for my freedom V I would say to all who become members of the Home, 
do as I did, and never leave there until you are sure Jesus has forgiven you, and 
that you have consecrated yourself fully to him. I miss the Home and its influ- 
ence and teachings, but I can truly say, though away from its influences, I realize 
that Jesus is able and willing to keep me. How often I repeat that assuring 
motto taught at the Home, that when we are tempted and tried let us be able, by 
strict obedience to God's commands, to say, "Jesu p saves me now." May God so 



LETTERS FROM FORMER MEMBERS. 



or 



direct me in my future life that all I may do may be to His honor and glory, for 
I am sure that so long as I profit by the lessons taught me in my spiritual home 
so long will I be in the path of safety. Yours. M. K. 



This son was given up by almost every one. His brother had become so disgusted with him that he 
wrote me he never wanted to hear from him again. He is now an evangelist in a neighboring city. Saved 
by the power of God. Came to us September 21, 1883. 

(From the Mother and Sisters of a former Inmate.) 

Leghorn. Italy, Nov. 29. 1884. / 
3 Via Degli Elise. ) 

Mr. Charles A. Bunting, Christian Home, Madison Ave., X. Y. 

Dear Sir : — It is now about a year since my son was an inmate of the Chris- 
tian Home. We thank God. who directed him there, and we thank you and those 
associated with you, for all the kindness he received from you and them. We are 
grateful beyond expression for the change in him. He has told us much about 
the Home, and how many happy hours he has spent there ; and we have shed 
many tears of joy over his conversion. To God be all the glory: 

My daughters and I have sent by P. O. order 105 francs, which I think is 
equivalent to about twenty dollars. It is a very small token of gratitude and 
good wishes. Believe me, Yours truly, . 



Came to us, as he remarked, to be saved: His brother was then a member of the Home. Soon he 
gave himself to Jesus, and from that day to this has never faltered. Came to us January 15, 1884. 

, Canada, Feb. 3, 1885. 

Dear Mr. Bunting : 

You must excuse me for not writing sooner, and I now take the opportunity 
of sending you my hearty and sincere thanks for all your love and kindness to 
me in bringing me the dear and loving Saviour, who loves me dearly, and "saves 
me now ;" and God be praised for His gift in sending His Son into the world to 
save such a poor, weak sinner as I was. 

Since my return I have not had the slightest desire for tobacco or strong 
drink, and my whole house is now so sweet and nice since giving up the narcotic 
weed . 

Give my kindest regards to Mr. Pulis, my brother, and all the dear members 
of The New York Christian Home, the only Christian — i. e., the best — home I have 
met with in my travels — the home where I found peace and rest for my immortal 
being. 

James says in his 5th chapter, 15th verse, "Pray one for another.'' Pray for 
vie, that I may be kept steadfast in Him who has indeed made me free. Remain- 
ing, dear Mr. Bunting, Yours in Christ, A. 



!>8 SUPPLEMENTARY MATTER. 

Opium and rum — a slave to both habits A wonderful victory. A gentleman of education, but near 
his end when he came to us January 15, 1884. 

, Connecticut, December 20. 188(1 

My Dear Mr. Bunting : 

Nearly three years have now passed away since I became free from the use 
of opium, and when I consider what I have been relieved from, I can say con- 
tinually, " God bless the Christian Home." When I came to you three years ago 
I was considered a hopeless case. I had become a slave to that worst of habits, 
opium. This is a thousand times worse than rum. My system, physically and 
mentally, was awieck, so much so that for three weeks after entering your place 
I was considered hopeless by all except yourself. You had faith in the Lord's 
healing power, and stood by me. In two months' time I left the Home, strong 
in body and mind. I have never, from that time to this, tasted of opium nor 
alcohol of any kind, nor have I had a desire to do so. I send you these words so 
that you may feel encouraged in your noble work, and not be afraid to try any 
case, however dark it may look. Truly and justly have you been called by God for 
this great work, and may you long be spared as the instrument in God's hands of 
leading others into the same new life as you did me . 

Yours truly, . 



Another victim of opium and whiskey. Came to us all broken up. A perfect picture of despair. Be- 
came one of the most earnest of Christians I have ever known. Makes every one happy when he testifies 
in our meetings. Now occupying a trustworthy position in one of our city banks. Came to us May 24, 1 870 . 

New York, May 24, 1886. 
Dear Mr. Banting : 

I am happy beyond measure to say that on the 24th day of May, 1880, I en- 
tered upon the eighth year of my Christian life, having conquered the opium 
habit and found Christ on that date in the year 1879, in your little study at the 
Christian Home in 78th Street. To-day, now, I am still clinging to the Rock, 
and Christ, as my constant guide, comfort, and support, has become a blessed 
reality. His word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path, and day by 
day the good Lord becomes more precious to me, not alone for what he has done 
for me, but also for what he is continually doing for me. I just give myself 
away to Jesus every morning, and I find that he smooths my pathway, and with 
my heart full of the love of Christ I cheerfully follow wherever he leads me. 

I wrote to you on the 24th of last May my usual letter, for you know as long 
as you and I live, that day shall never pass without my annual letter to you. 

My dear Mr. Bunting, I have you in my thoughts probably more than you 
think, for you led me to Jesus, and that kind act of yours, and the way you have 
encouraged me, makes me your everlasting debtor. God bless you, my dear 






HOPE FOR THE SLAVE OF THE CUP. 99 



friend, and may yon be a blessing to many, many more souls, in leading them to 
the Saviour, for yon were the instrument, in God's hands, that gave me peace, 
joy. happiness, and everlasting life. Pray for me. and think of me occasionally. 
I will be up soon to see you. 

Ever your sincere and grateful friend, . 



HOPE FOR THE SLAVE OF THE CUP. 

Large brained, large hearted, generous men, permeated with a love for the 
fallen and afflicted, have given freely of their abundance to found and place on a 
permanent basis an institution for the salvation of those who have lost their self- 
control, by affording them opportunities to become regenerated men. 

The New York Christian Home for Intemperate Sfen is located at No. 117.") 
Madison Avenue, corner of 86th Street, on one of the finest and healthiest sites in 
New York, with Central Park only a block distant. The arrangements and man- 
agement of the Home have been perfected, after years of intelligent study, by 
Manager Charles A. Bunting and the Directors of the Institution. The members 
of the Home are impressively reminded that drunkenness is a sin against God, to 
be repented of and forsaken. In fact, the chief and distinguishing advantage of 
the Home over other institutions is that from the first it environs every member 
with the persuasive, elevating atmosphere of simple Gospel truth, applied directly 
to the sin which has brought such misery into his life. The instructions and 
teachings that the members receive are singularly effective for the redemption of 
the inebriate. It was the good fortune of the writer of this to have enjoyed the 
invaluable blessings and advantages of the Home for several weeks, and he will 
never forget the ringing, heartfelt testimonies and experiences given on Saturday 
evening by the members and ex-members (many of them now scattered over the 
United States and Canada). They evidenced thorough reformation and regenera- 
tion. Their testimonies came from then hearts, and their countenances were full 
of joy as they acknowledged their thankfulness to God for their deliverance from 
a worse than Egyptian bondage. Such almost miraculous restorations extort the 
acclaim : ■• Verily, nothing is impossible with God ! 

The daily life at the Home is by no means monotonous. Religious services at 
at 9 a.m. and 3 o'clock p.m. ; prayers at 9.30 p.m. Opportunities for walks in Cen- 
tral Park, the privileges of some of the best churches in New York on Sunday, 
and Wednesday and Friday evenings, daily papers, a well selected library, sym- 
pathetic company, and regular hours, regular, wholesome, generous meals — all 
combine to make the establishment a delightful Christian Home. 

An exceptional feature in the Home is that Manager Bunting (a God-fearing, 



100 SUPPLEMENTARY MATTER. 

noble-minded Christian gentleman), who has dedicated his best talents and ener- 
gies to his work, and his Assistant Managers, Messrs. Pulis and Hayes, and, in 
fact, all the officers in the Institution, are regenerated men, who in times past 
were under the bondage of the cup, and have been reclaimed by God's grace. Con- 
sequently all are bound together by the ties of human sympathy and Christian 
brotherhood. Grateful unto God for having been a partaker of its benefits, I fer- 
vently exclaim : " God bless the Christian Home !" 

George J. Bryan, in Buffalo Christian Advocate. 

[Truly, the grace of God can reach all. Mr. Bryan came to us for 
help out of his terrible life of sin. He was a gentleman of culture and 
education, with a lovely family, all in distress. Once a leading editor in 
his city, but everything was gone. Since he left us he has regained his 
position in society and has his old paper back ; is now editor and propri- 
etor, and is loved and respected by all who know him. Truly, God is 
good ! 

We publish this, as it will, no doubt, help some other poor, lost one to 
seek this haven of rest. — C. A. B.] 



ANTI-TOBACCO ITEMS. 



Cigar stumps are gathered from the streets and gutters in many of our pop- 
ular cities and sold to cigarette manufacturers, and again find their way into 
market and are then smoked by ladies and gentlemen. No accounting for taste. 



Even a century ago, Dr. Rush discerned the closely connecting link between 
alcohol and tobacco. He said : "Smoking and chewing tobacco, by rendering 
water and simple liquors insipid to the taste, dispose very much to the st 1 onger 
stimulus of ardent spirits." 



Special observations of the effects of tobacco on thirty-eight boys from 9 to 
15 years old have been made recently by Dr. G. DeCaisne, a distinguished French 
physician. With twenty-two of the boys there was a distinct disturbance of the 
circulation with palpitation of the heart, deficiencies of digestion, sluggishness of 
the intellect and a craving for alcoholic stimulants. Twelve boys suffered from 
frequent bleeding of the nose, ten from agitated sleep, four had ulcerated mouths 
and one had contracted consumption, the effect of deterioration of the blood, 
produced by long and excessive use of tobacco. 



ANTI-TOBACCO ITEMS. 101 

;i Why did you learn to smoke, my boy?" " For the same reason you did, I 
suppose." ''Well I want you to £top smoking." " Won't you give me the 
reason for stopping that I had for learning, father." After a moment, " Yes, I 
will." Both stopped. 



A zealous preacher, who loved smoking better than he ought, in a heated dis- 
course, exclaimed, aiming his rifle at some of his hearers : " Brethern, there is 
no sleeping car on the train to glory." One of the party whom he aimed to hit 
responded : " Xo. brother, nor smoking-car either." 

When we see church members paying from six to ten dollars for tobacco, and 
only two to four for the Gospel per year, we are forced to conclude that if a man 
will rob God of His tithes and offerings from love of his pipe, it is high time to 
cast to the moles and the bats the idol that claims such a supremacy. 

The Arkansas Methodist, thus speaks of the tobacco habit: " Bad looking 
sight ! A woman learning her children to say their evening prayers with an old 
stick in her mouth full of snuff ! A snuff -dipping mother, with a tobacco-chew- 
ing father, aided by a smoking pastor, with a plenty of tobacco, forma fine circle 
to talk Christian temperance, and teach the children self-denial." 



•• How careful ought every Christian to be not only before a criticizing 
world, but everywhere. A single word or act may unintentionally warp the 
mind of a weak Christian, as a breath of wind may sometimes warp the giant 
oak . Especially are ministers of the Gospel liable to do harm by their inconsis- 
tencies, and we notice right here a bad case, hoping it may have a good influence, 
not with a wish to do anybody harm. A layman proposed to a minister to quit 
chewing tobacco if he would quit smoking, but the minister declined." — Arkansas 
Paper. 

I am advised that two laymen not five blocks from where I am writing offered 
to quit smoking and rent a pew in the neighboring church if the minister would 
quit using tobacco, and the reply was, "Show me anything in the Bible that says 
a minister shan't smoke and I will.*' No wonder the church lies dormant. Cler- 
gymen stand in the pulpit and exclaim, Why is religion so unpopular ? Why so 
many vacant pews ? Why so little interest in Christianity ? and then in loud 
tones and long sentences they ask, ,: Is it on account of science falsely so called ?" 
Is it on account of agnosticism ? Is it on account of the teachings of Huxley, 
Tindall, Ingersoll, and the like ? Oh no, dear friends, it is on account of not doing 
what the blessed Lord tells you to do, viz., ''It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to 
drink wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended or is made 
weak." This is what's the matter ! And a Methodist editor savs : 



102 



SUPPLEMENTARY MATTER. 



" How can a preacher chew and smoke and come to conference whining over 
assessments not half paid : his own salary meagre, perhaps in debt, and troubled 
by day and by night as to how he is to come out : yet he and his people have 
chewed, smoked and dipped up enough money to have made him independent, 
and not one word has he said to them to stop this unwmolesome, this fearful 
practice. No, he could not, for he was a partaker and encouraged it by his own 
valuable example. Oh, brethern, how will you meet this at the great day ! 

Rev. Dr. T. De Witt Talmage. in a recent stirring and able sermon, said : 
One reason why there are so many victims of this habit is because there are 
so many ministers of religion who smoke and chew. They smoke until they 
get the bronchitis, and the dear people have to pay their expenses to Europe. 
They smoke until the nervous system breaks down. They smoke themselves to 
death. I could name three eminent clergymen who died of cancer in the mouth, 
and in every case the physician said it was tobacco. There lias been many a 
clergyman whose tombstone was all covered up with eulogy which ought to 
have had the honest epitaph: " Killed by too much Cavendish." 



When the charter of our New York Medical College was granted in 1866 ? 
writes Mrs. Lozier. M. D., a medical gentleman and senator from the rural dis- 
tricts, who had favored the bill, sent me his congratulations, saying also that he 
had an only child, a daughter six years old. who. he hoped, when old enough, 
would become my pupil. About a year ago this daughter, now a young lady, was 
brought to me, not as a pupil, but a patient, her father reporting that she had 
always been too nervous to study, and that he could never trust her from his care. 

Her symptoms led me to inquire concerning his habits in regard to the use of 
tobacco. He was an inveterate smoker, and because his wife found the smell of 
it unendurable, when in the house he confined his smoking to the study, where 
his daughter was his constant companion. The young lady r s condition was criti- 
cal; the action of the heart was so irregular that she could not lie down, and thus 
her sleep was interfered with. After I had seen her three times, and made an 
examination of her case, her father asked me, " What do you think is the cause 
of her illness ? " " I am sure," I said, " that her condition is due to the inhalation 
of tobacco." After a little reflection he replied: k ' I believe it! Tobacco is an 
arterial sedative, affecting the whole circulation of the blood." Bringing the 
right hand down with decision, he exclaimed: " Mrs. Dr. Lozier, you have hit 
upon the right, I am convinced, and if I should ever take up a temperance cru- 
sade I would begin at tobacco." Notwithstanding that the invalid is somewhat 
improved since being removed from the poisonous atmosphere, I fear the truth is 
that her constitution is shattered for life. 



BEQUESTS AND FUNDS. 103 

FORM OF A BEQUEST. 

I give and bequeath to " The New York Christian Home for Intemperate 
Men," the sum of 



and the receipt of the Treasurer thereof shall be a sufficient discharge of my execu- 
tors for the same. 

"He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack.' 1 



THE VANDERBILT FUND. 

In connection with bequests to this Home, it is my pleasant duty to acknowl- 
edge the munificent legacy of $50,000, left us by thp late William H. Vanderbilt, 
and which, invested with the kDowledge and sanction of his executors in approved 
securities, gives the interest constituting the "Vanderbilt Fund." The income 
thus procured is a welcome and important addition to our resources, and stands 
as a permanent endowment for the relief of those who, through habits of intem- 
perance, have been reduced to an utterly friendless and apparently hopeless con- 
dition. Only those engaged actively in the work of reclamation can tell the 
blessed benefits derivable from such a fund, because experience teaches us that 
from this very class of friendless men spring many who become not only thor- 
oughly restored themselves, but leave here to specially and singularly help in 
reclaiming others. 

The great interest taken in the work of The New York Christian Home by 
the late Mr. Vanderbilt was manifest in many ways. He had a keen appreciation 
of the blessings it brought to so man}" families and to the community. In every 
reclaimed man he saw a distinct gain, religiously, morally, and financially, to 
the Nation. He felt that however much of this world's goods a man might pos- 
sess, he could not stand alone, and that in the aggregate of general profit and loss 
even the millionaire is affected by the failure, the ruin, the waste, the non-pro- 
ductiveness, which flow from habits of intemperance. With all the beneficent 
results brought about in the old Home he had such intelligent sympathy that at 
one time he seriously contemplated paying all the cost incident to the price of the 
lots for the new Home, and the erection of the building itself. Causes, unneces- 
sary to detail, intervened between the generous proposal and its execution. But 
while he lived his donations were large and given with an abundance of spirit. 
Such an example need scarcely be urged upon the wealthy among Christian 
society as being worthy of imitation. It speaks for itself, and emphasizes the 
wisdom of following the Gospel injunction to lay up treasures where the rust 
consumes not nor the moth eats awav. 



104 SUPPLEMENTARY MATTER. 

In thus recording my sense of gratitude to the memory of William H. Van- 
derbilt, it is appropriate to mention that when he was called to bid adieu to 
earthly scenes, the friendly feeling which had been felt by his family as well as 
himself for this work did not slacken. On the contrary, his son, Cornelius, who 
had been a member of our Board of Directors almost from the very first, remains 
one of the most active and sympathetic among that body, was a large contributor 
to the Building Fund, and is still one of the largest contributors to the various 
funds needed to enable us to carry on our labors. Personally he has been more 
than kind to me, for when sickness, bodily infirmity and accidental loss superin- 
duced monetary requirements beyond my means he, without a hint, much less a 
word of solicitation, so met my needs that it seemed as if he were receiving in- 
stead of conferring a favor. 

THE MEMORIAL FUND. 

Sometime prior to the date of the Tenth Anniversary of the Home it was 
deemed advisable to fittingly celebrate an event of such deep interest to all en- 
gaged in this mission of mercy, and to still further characterize our work as an 
eminently Christian endeavor, by starting a Memorial Fund of $5, 000, to be applied 
in granting temporary loans to deserving indigent members on their departure 
from the Home, thereby enabling them to pay their board for a little time while 
seeking employment. It was felt that this would be a most suggestive way of 
aiding our poorer brethren, and as each loan was but for a time, the appearance 
of mere mendicity would be removed from the application of the fund, while the 
honorable return of each amount loaned would keep the gross total intact for the 
assistance of others. The celebration was held on June 7th, 188T, and was largely 
attended. Addresses were made by the Rev. J. M. King, D.D. (Methodist), Rev. 
D. C. Litchfield, D.D. (Baptist), Rev. George J. Mingins (Presbyterian), Caleb B. 
Knevals, Esq., on behalf of the Home, and Charles A. Bunting, Esq., Resident 
Manager. In his address Mr. Bunting reviewed the inception and progress of the 
work, detailing its early struggles and later successes, dwelling upon the kindness 
of those who had upheld his endeavors when the darkest clouds seemed gathering, 
all united in prayerful rest upon the heart of Jesus while urging the work for- 
ward like earnest laborers in the vineyard of the Lord. In closing his remarks, 
the Manager alluded in feeling terms to the many obligations the Home was 
under to Mr. Knevals, and also to Mr. Pulis, Assistant. A tribute to Mr. Hayes 
followed, in the course of which Mr. Bunting said that many a heart in the Home 
would join in words of praise to Mr. Hayes. The sum of over $1,900 was realized, 
and the Fund still remains open, to be added to by all who feel disposed now to 
attest their Christian charity for their needy brethren or their gratitude to God 
for the blessings they have reaped in, by and through this Home. 



105 

©bttuarp IRotices, 

H. B. T. came to us March 26th, 1879. and when he died several years after- 
ward sent this message to me by Mr. Pulis : i; I die trusting in Jesus." 



Mr. Wiltbank came to the Home July 5. 18TT. His indeed was a life of severe 
struggle. At last he died in the Roosevelt Hospital, and sent us this message by 
Mr. Palis : " Tell Mr. Bunting I am saved." 

Mr. Stanley was a very talented young man. and beloved by all who knew 
him. I had the privilege of standing by his bedside in the hospital. He died 
fully trusting in Jesus, and his funeral was attended by many of the members of 
the Home, 



A. H. M., a noted minstrel, joined our Gospel Temperance band in the Home 
Oct. 5, 1879. and soon entered on a serious life as a Christian. Read his letter 
published elsewhere, dated from Kentucky,, November 23, 1880. I have just 
learned through his wife, of his triumphant death. 

Frank Budworth, the actor, died in Xew Orleans July 10, 1884. In this 
Home it was his blessed privilege to make open confession of his trust in the 
Saviour, and lie lived steadfast and true to the lessons of faith and love, tem- 
perance and truth, until he fell asleep in Jesus, assured of a blessed immor- 
tality. 



Mr. G.. an actor, a lovely young man, came to us after trying many Refor- 
matory Institutions without success. In this Home he found Christ to be his 
Saviour. He died in his mother's arms, and his last words were : " God bless 
the Christian Home. Tell Mr. Bunting I die trusting in Jesus." He was sick with 
consumption some eighteen months, and died two years after leaving the Home. 



On the 19th of November, 1884. Mr. Oscar M. Wilcox, of this city, and for- 
merly a member of this Home, died in Utica. N. Y. He was much beloved by all 
here, and it was at this Institution that he gave his heart to God. going forth 
from us a Christian man. He was a consistent follower of the Lord, happiest 
when doing good to others, and raising them up from the pit of destruction. 



A Mr. Moore had remained with us for several months, being employed with 
duties in the Home. He was converted here, and all through his stay he lived a 
devoted Christian life. Shortly after leaving us he died of a very painful disease. 
It was the privilege of Christian friends to stand by his bedside, and as he passed 
away, to hear the words as he tried to sing, " What a friend we have in Jesus.*' 



106 SUPPLEMENTARY MATTER. 

J. M. L., of this city, was received in the Home June 13, 1882, and here gave 
his heart to God. He left us on the 11th of the following month, and his uncle, 
Mr. Mackey, informed us that he continued to live a Christian life up to the time 
of his death, about two years after he had been saved. With his last breath he 
praised God for inspiring those who had brought him to the Christian Home. 



Mr. M. , of Baltimore, a very nice man, with the one exception of his beset- 
ting sin, became a Christian man while an inmate of this Home. During his 
sickness, he was in frequent communication witli his Avife and friends. His 
brother came on to this city expressly to take him home, but he was too feeble to 
be removed from the hospital. His last words to me were, ,k I am already to go. 
I am waiting and watching for Jesus.' 



Mr. P. became one of the Home family September 5, 1878, and here learned 
that Jesus could save to the uttermost. It was in connection with the efforts to 
inaugurate the Memorial Fund that we learned through his wife of his death, 
which took place July, 1884. She says : "As long as he was able to think or to 
speak, he had loving, grateful thoughts and words for the Christian Home audits 
workers, and for your kindness and interest in him." Read his beautiful letter 
from E , October 19, 1878. . 



A Mr. J., of Providence, R. I., came to the Home when first opened. 
Soon after coming he gave his heart to God. He returned to his home. About two 
years after, he came to this city and called on us. at that time being very sick 
with consumption. These are his words : " Before going home I wanted to come 
and see you and your wife, and tell you that the teachings I had received while 
here were my salvation. I have made a somewhat crooked track, but my eyes 
have never been taken off of my blessed Saviour/' He died in Providence, shortly 
afterward. 

Firm in his religious trust, and true to the temperance vows he had made in 
the Christian Home, in the month of June, 1885, David Taggart, of this city, went 
to enjoy his heavenly rest. His was a Christian soul, full of love, hope, faith 
and to the very last texts of Scripture and the words of familiar hymns lingered 
on his lips. While sick his physician proposed to give him stimulants, but he 
said, t4 No : I will never take anything of that kind again. I want to die sober."' 
And sober he died to earth, only to live anew in heaven with the Christ who 
had touched his heart and given him the new birth in the gospel of everlasting 
life. 






OBITUARY NOTICES. 107 

William S. Stroud became acquainted with me and the Home through the 
Instrumentality of Rev. S. H. Tyng, Jr., in the month of January. 1881, and he 
gave himself to Christ without reserve shortly after. From time to time his tes- 
timony for Jesus was heard in our meetings. In the Fall of 1883 he was attacked 
by consumption, when, yielding to the earnest solicitations of my wife and my- 
self, he came to us, that better care and attention might be given his then enfee- 
bled body. It became apparent very soon after he became a member of the faniily 
that his stay with us would be of shore duration. Toward the end of January, 1884, 
the physician in charge thought it best to let him know that in a few weeks the 
end would come. He had cherished a strong desire to see his mother in England 
l)efore he died, and at his request I cabled to her. In her reply she said that if 
the doctor thought her son would live long enough to reach his native shores to 
let him come. On the 3 1st of January he sailed for his home, but died five days 
after, the immediate cause of death being the rupture of a blood vessel, superin- 
duced by a severe coughing spell. His last words were, u Give my best love to 
my dear mother and to all." Thus he passed away, but we know it was well 
with his soul. Redeemed with the blood of Christ, he had fully surrendered 
himself to his Saviour, and his parting words to us are worthy of continued 
repetition — -'Thy will, O God, be done." 



On the evening of February 3. 1886, the angel of death visited the Home, and 
in the form of heart disease took from us our dear brother, Samuel Orothers. He 
had been a member of the Home but a short time, long enough, however, to grasp 
the great truth that Jesus died to save him. On the evening previous to his death 
he gave his first testimony for Christ in these words : "In the providence of God 
my feet were directed to this Home, and, oh ! how I do thank him for it. I have 
this day given myself to Jesus. He has saved me. Pray for me, brethren, that I 
may always be faithful." He retired to his room in his usual health, was in con- 
versation with those about him. when he suddenly arose, dressed himself, and 
went clown to the office and desired the one in charge to let him out. as he was 
very sick and wished to go home to his mother. He was prevailed upon to return 
to his room, and the doctor at the Home was summoned to his bedside, and while 
writing a prescription he passed away. A few moments before his death he wished 
the following message to be delivered : " Tell mother it is all right with me. I 
die trusting in Jesus." This is the third death that has occurred in the Home 
during the ten years of its existence. The first was a Mr. Quinn. who. while 
apparently in good health, died suddenly of apoplexy, with hardly a moment's 
warning. The second, Mr. Raymond James, ate his breakfast, but not feeling 
very well, returned to his room. Before retiring he read a chapter in the Bible 



108 SUPPLEMENTARY MATTER. 

and knelt in prayer. This was about 10 o'clock p. M. About three hours after- 
ward he awoke the friend sleeping near him by his peculiar breathing, and at 
1 o'clock he was cold in death. All three of these brethren we have reason to 
believe are to-day at God's right hand, singing praises to His name. 



On the 2nd of June 1884, George W. Erambert, a former member of the 
Home, died at Farmville, Va., the place of his birth. His was a chequered 
history, full of pathos and warning. He came to the Home for the first time, 
two days after it w^as opened, and it was my privilege to give him several oppor- 
tunities to combat the rum-fiend until at length he passed away forever. But 
his death was not that of the despairing. The last of his lapses from sobriety 
was brought to my notice by a note he sent to me in February. 1883, which read 
as follows : " For God's sake have mercy upon me. I am in rags. Do help me 
once more. You will find me at the Post Office.'' I was lying on a sick bed at 
the time and sent a messenger in pursuit of him, but he could not be found and I 
heard nothing of him until the following March, when Mr. Ottignon, a former 
member of the Home, called and informed me that lie had brought Mr.Erambert 
into town with him that morning. He had walked to Mr. O.'s residence the day 
before (some twelve miles), and was very anxious to be received again into the 
Home. I had an interview with him : I could not refuse his prayer, he seemed 
so much in earnest, and was in such miserable health. During his last residence 
at the Home he had the best medical treatment at the hands of Drs. A. J. Rich- 
ardson and Andrew H. Smith, but his disease (consumption) was past 
cure. He left us and entered the Presbyterian Hospital, receiving there the best 
possible care and attention. A kind friend, Mr. Case, then took poor Erambert 
to his home at Tremont, where he remained until March, 1884. when lie went to 
join his friends in the South. About a year previous, in April 1883, while a mem- 
ber of the Home, I called him to my study and read to him a little talk which I had 
prepared for the Saturday evening meeting, subject: ''Swept and Garnished. " 
I shall never forget the expression of his countenance as he looked into my 
face and said, e< That is me, swept and garnished. Oh, Mr. Bunting, will not the 
Holy Spirit come and take up his abode with me ?" We prayed together, and as 
he rose from his knees he assured me that God had heard our prayer, and that he 
was saved. Thenceforth in his testimony he referred to this time and place as 
the beginning of his new life. 

His was indeed a life of distress and suffering. Nights without sleep, days 
of weariness, gasping for breath. He struggled hard for life, determined to tri- 
umph over disease. He loved his wife and family well, and strove to bear the 
necessary separation patiently. In his last letter to me, written May 22d, 1884, 
ten days before his death, strongly clinging to his life though prostrated on bed, 



OBITUARY NOT] 109 

lie said: "I am slowly improving, but am quite >iek : yet I am patient, and 
have left all with God. His grace is sufficient for me. He alone can do for me 
and restore me to health. I fully trust Him. I ask your and Brother Pulis' spec- 
ial prayers that God may restore me to health, and that when I write _ain 
I may be stronger." Man pr - g God disposes. On June 3rd. I received a 
letter from his brother. It read thus : " Dear Mr. Bunting : I write to inform. 
you that my brother l lied at half-past eleven o'clock last night. He died 
trusting in Christ. He spoke of you bo often, and how he loved yon. Poor fel- 
low; he suffered so much. We did all we could for him. Not a day 
over his head but what he spoke of yen and your kindness. How he enjoyed the 
letters he received from you. He said he wanted to live to go back to see you 
and his friends at the Home, but if God thought best to take him away, he w 
willing to go. I have heard him speak of you so much that I feel as if I knew 
you. 

•* Hastily yours. 

■ E. L. Erambert." 

On the same date I received a letter from his wife. She said : M George told 
his brother on Sunday that he could not be with them long. He spoke often of 
me through the day. and wished he could see me. He wanted to be spared to do 
something more for us. but if God thought best to take liim he was willing t g 
He died trusting in Christ. About one hour before breathing his last he called 
me by name, saying : ' Frank. I can't stay with you long.' Oh. Mr. Bunting, to 
think the end is come, and such an ending as this, separated as we were, and now 
surely separated by death. My heart is full. I can't help grieving for him. He 
was my husband. God forgave him : so had I. I hoped so much that I might 
be with him at the la^t. Hi- brother said i Loved you so much. Plea^ 

write to me. Mr. Bunting. A letter from you will do me so much good. I feel 
all alone now. for while he lived there was always a hope for the future : but I 
shall trust as he did in Christ, and we will yet meet where there is no separation. 
God bless you. Mr. Bunting ! you brought him at last to Christ, you taught him 
the way. and God has taken him home. 

••Yours sincerely. Mrs. E. D. Erambert." 

Thus died our friend and brother, at the residence of his brother in Farmville. 
Va. I had corresponded with Mrs. Erambert for several years previous to his 
death, and knew her well personally. She is a truly Christian woman, ever 
faithful to her poor husband, always regretting the hard necessity, the cruel 
habit which separated them, but ever resigned to the will of G 

I have thought it best to publish this short sketch of a life rendered pro- 
foundly wretched through strong drink, and to frankly state the many failures of 
a man who. no doubt, unconsciously deceived himself as to the ^tate of his soul. 



.110 SUPPLEMENTARY MATTER. 

until God opened his eyes to the blessed truths of salvation through our Lord 
Jesus Christ. The lesson of George Erambert's life is — " never despair." Christ 
Jesus can save to the uttermost. This poor soul, many times flung into the pit 
by Satan, trampled, rent and polluted, rose at last, pure and bright, triumphant 
through the grace and mercy of God and of His glorious Son. 



Many others of our band have passed away, of whom we have confident 
hope that in their last hours on earth the Saviour was there to carry them 
through. But we only name those of whom we have positive knowledge through 
messages sent us. 



K-»^J){J^ 



H-+ 



NEWSPAPER NOTICES 111 

Thurlow Weed in The Tribune. 

The cause of temperance is being served in this city by Gospel agencies. 
Mr. Bunting, who lias established a Home for penitent inebriates in this city, 
does his work thoroughly. Mr. Bunting, in his quiet, effective way. is reforming 

and converting what has hitherto been held to be a hopeless class of inebriates. 
Do not despair : there is still hope for the drunkard. 



From The Times, New Brunswick, N. J. 

Foremost among the institutions for aiding the wretched stands The New 
York Christian Home. It has performed its work so silently yet withal so nobly 
as to demand more than passing notice from the casual observer. Founded in 
1ST? by Mi*. Chas. A. Bunting, it has so far exceeded the most sanguine expecta- 
tions of its supporters. Who are the inmates? Doctors, clergymen, lawyers. 
actors, clerks and representatives from every craft, all brought to one common 
level by rum. Besides relieving those who suffer from the use of alcoholic liquors, 
the " Home " treats Opium and Morphine cases with equally happy results. 



From American Temperance Union. 

The Christian Home, situated at the corner of Madison Avenue and Eighty- 
sixth street, is not merely in name but in very deed a " Christian Home." Its 
pleasant, roomy and attractive apartments are not its strongest recommendations. 
The sympathy and love which exalt Christ, and point the victim of strong drink 
to Him who can save to the uttermost: that love Avhich does not spurn the most 
abandoned one. but sees in him an immortal soul for whom the Son of God suf- 
fered and died — it is this love and this faith that exist there, and give to the 
*• Home," its true name, and the blessed influence it is exerting upon its inmates 
and all who visit it. 



From The CongregationaJist . Boston. 

The friends who have aided and watched the working of The New York 
Christian Home for Intemperate Men, are greatly encouraged by the outcome. 
The Home was opened in June. 1877. The *• Home" deserves the name: it is well 
furnished, and has none of the air of a hospital or asylum. Forcible restraints 
are not used. The rules of the house are signed on entering, and their faithful 
observance is left to the honor of the inmates. These have for the most part 
been men of more than average culture and social position: members of all the 
professions, journalists, teachers, merchants being represented. 



From To -Day. 

* * * * Xhere are many hundreds to-day who are thanking and praising 
God for this dear Home. Many of them a few years ago were wandering about 



112 SUPPLEMENTARY MATTER. 

our streets, poor and despised of all men, in rags and in filth, but now they are 
living in happy homes, surrounded by kind and loving influences, respected by 
all men, and they owe it all to God and The New York Christian Home. Its 
doors are open to all who honestly wish to lead a new life ; men who are tired 
and sick of the wretched lives they are leading and want the mighty Saviour are 
welcome, the poor as well as the rich. * * No tobacco is permitted to be used 
by any of the members o# the Home, Mr. Bunting believing this habit tends to 
lead men into drinking. May God bless this grand and noble work, and may He 
spare Mr. Bunting's life for many years to come, and may God bless every effort 
that is put forth to reclaim and redeem the drunkard and the lost ones. 



From The New York World. 

* * * # ]\j[ r# Bunting showed our reporter through the Institution. Every- 
thing told of a cheerful home. In the library was found an editor of a Hartford 
paper. He was happy and contented. In the reading-room were gathered a 
banker from Virginia, a former employee of the New York Comptroller's office, a 
former clerk for A. T. Stewart, who was at the head of the silk department at 
one time, an artist, a lawyer, and a resident of New York who has just run 
through a fortune of $150,000. In the sitting-room was a salesman in a leading- 
house in New York, an Episcopal minister from Massachusetts, a wood-engraver 
who was earning $12 a day before he* went to pieces. There are many wonderful 
cures entered on the records of the Institution. A patient came from Blackwell's 
Island. He was the worst they had ever received. He was bathed, clothed, and 
converted the same day. He was a lawyer from Ohio who had been drinking for 
years and had fallen to the lowest depths. His brother was a judge of the Supreme 
Court in Kansas. This patient is now enjoying a lucrative practice in Pennsyl- 
vania . 



The following letter and reply appeared in the New York Witness four years 
ago: 

Dear Editor of the Witness; 

Is there any cure for drunkenness where it has been persisted in for years? I have been lis- 
tening to one who, as he says, is bound hand and foot with a chain riveted at every corner. He 
has promised again and again, and as often broken his vows. He is now over sixty years of age 
and has been drinking for fifteen or eighteen years. He knows, to his sorrow, that "It biteth as a 
serpent and stingeth like an adder. i' Again. I repeat, is there help? Can you suggest anything 
to avert the terrible calamity of seeing a loved one filling a drunkard's grave? God have mercy 
on those w T ho allow this terrible curse to destroy our homes and the souls and bodies of its victims. 

A St. Louis Young Wom an . 

[The only enre in such cases is what may be called a miracle, wrought by 
God in answer to the prayer of faith. There have been many instances of such 
cures of habitual drunkards. The least yielding afterward to taste any kind o* 






NEWSPAPER NOTICES. 113 

intoxicating drinks will renew the uncontrollable drunkard's appetite. The 
Christian Home for Inebriates, Madison Avenue and 86th Street, Xew York, has 
saved many apparently hopeless drunkards by teaching them to lean on the arm 
of the Saviour continually. — Ed.] 



From the Telegram. N. Y. 

" Don't tell me there is no hope for a drunkard. ' said a gentleman to a Tele- 
gram reporter in front of the post-office. ;t Do you see that finely dressed man 
there ?" pointing to a handsome looking specimen of humanity who was convers- 
ing with a lady on the corner. " Less than one year ago there could be found 
fewer more miserable creatures in New York than that man. He was dressed — 
almost undressed — in rags, and he * hung out ' in some of the lowest dives on 
Chatham, Roosevelt, and Mulberry Streets. When he couldn't get six-cent rum 
he was only too glad to get a three-cent glass of Italian made ' lightning,' or 
even a two-cent schooner of stale beer. His brother, a very estimable business 
man, had cast him off. He was friendless and in despair. He became a loath- 
some beggar. By some miracle he obtained admission to The Christian Home for 
Intemperate Men up town and remained there live weeks . He was fed and 
clothed for some time, and when he left was a reformed man. He now holds a 
responsible and lucrative position down town ; he lias been restored to his family 
and friends, and to my certain knowledge has not touched liquor, gin or beer for 
eleven months, and I do not believe he could be induced to do so for $10,000. 

'• Yes, some drunkards can be reformed, for I have been a drunkard myself — 
but not in the past fifteen years.'' 



From The New York Times. 

The good results which have been effected at The New York Christian Home 
for Intemperate Men is shown by the testimony of former and present members. 
One, a Presbyterian minister's son. was reformed by reading a tract at the Home. 
Another, a ruddy-faced, bright-eyed man, never read a line in the Bible until he 
came to the Home. He sank so low that he lost all self-respect, and even slept 
in lumber piles on the docks. While intoxicated one day, a gentleman who saw 
him wrote the location of the Home on the margin of a newspaper without giving 
its name or object, and told him to go to the address given. He forgot about the 
scrap of paper until the next day, when he unthinkingly pulled it out of his vest 
pocket. A third, who two weeks ago was as drunk as whiskey could make him, 
said he had become. a Christian man and lost his taste for liquor. A fourth, 
a fine looking man, was induced to go to the Home by a person who was 
reformed by its inmates. An outcast for ten years who had been in prison, said 
he came to his senses at a noonday prayer -meeting, and was directed to the 
Home, which completed his reformation. 



114 SUPPLEMENTARY MATTER. 



From The Christian Advocate. 

" Where shall we send an intemperate man who wishes to reform?" How 
often this question comes to us by mail and in conversation ! There may be many 
good places : we hope there are. But before recommending any, several things 
must be known. Does the guilty man wish to reform? Does he feel guilty or 
only unfortunate ? Does he excuse himself in his debaucheries because he is dis- 
eased.? Does he feel heedless without Divine aid? If these questions can be 
answered in the affirmative, we have no hesitancy in answering by a positive re 
commendation the question so often asked. Here in the city of New York is the 
place where we would put an intemperate son, brother or friend with the greatest 
hope. It is The New York Christian Home for Intemperate Men. corner of Madi- 
son Avenue and 86th Street. Its results are wonderful. Moral miracles have 
been wrought there, and some of our own acquaintances have been thoroughly- 
reformed. With emphasis we repeat our former statement, that if we had an 
intemperate relative or friend anywhere who wished to reform, we should spare 
no pains or expense to get him under the power of this Christian Home. Charles 
A. Bunting is the Resident Manager. 






" Ebenezer" in The Tribune. 

* # * * It is of recent date that the writer became acquainted with the 
workings, the object and methods of this Institution, and yet for some ten years 
past it has been performing a beneficent mission in this community, restoring 
manhood to the unmanned, peace to families where discord had long reigned, 
hope to despairing souls and joy to hearts long saddened with the burden of reck- 
less sin. The care of the intemperate, their cure and restoration to respectable 
citizenship, is an object well deserving the support of the philanthropist. But 
when is added the regeneration of the man and his elevation to a p]ace in the 
ranks of Christian civilization, then the work appeals to all who claim spiritual 
affinity with Christ. It is precisely this special kind of work which is the self- 
chosen duty of those who manage and conduct this Institution, and when it is 
considered that the great majority of those who enter to share its blessings leave 
its precincts saved men, men redeemed from the curse of alcoholism and restored 
to conditions of usefulness for society, words fail to fittingly describe its peculiar 
merits and its claims upon the community. 

The names of those who are found among the most strenuous supporters of 
this Home, suffice to prove how completely it has fulfilled its mission, and it only 
remains to be generally known that the late William E. Dodge was among the 
first founders of this work to assure its advocates an attentive hearing from 
earnest Christian men and women. His son, the Rev. D, Stuart Dodge, occupies 
his deceased father's place as President of the Institution, and under his watch- 



NEWSPAPER NOTICES. 1L> 

fill supervision it pursues its great object, leading nien to know God. and 
because of that knowledge to abandon their degrading vices. To support such a 
work is. I conceive, one of the highest forms of Christian benevolence, and a 
visit to the Resident Manager. Mr. Charles A. Bunting, will aniply satisfy any 
one desiring to forward one of the most effective forms of Christian work, that 
in truth and in deed is God wonderful in all things, even to the salvation of those 
whom societv so often dooms to utter degradation and destruction. 



[The New York HeralcL The Sim. and other leading papers, have published 
similar commendatory notices of our work.] 




^^^k'^m^^r^^ 



116 ABSTAIN FOR THY BROTHER'S SAKE. 

The following is a portion of one of the weekly "talks" or lessons, 
given by the Manager on either Tuesday or Saturday evening, the subject 
being taken from the 14th and 15th chapters of Romans : 

According to the teachings found in God's Word, the strong should be 
willing to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please themselves. If 
God in His kind providence has been so good as to take our feet from the miry 
clay and put them on the solid rock, we should aim to do all we can for those who 
are as yet under bondage. We should not be selfish. If we are able to drink 
•our ale and wine, and find we can do all this in moderation, and yet know that 
our example is such that others are led to ruin by it, should we not do as 
He did — "for even Christ pleased not Himself/' Let us deprive ourselves 
of these so-called luxuries for the sake of our weak brother. Self-denial, 
.as to personal gratification, will be found pleasing to God, and our joy will 
be increased as we find we are enabled to live in this way for His sake. As 
our minds are enlightened more and more every day, and we see the pernicious 
oxample of some of those who are recognized as Christian people, should we not 
be bold as Gospel temperance workers in denouncing everything which has a ten- 
dency to endanger our brother? ''It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink 
wine, or anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made 
weak." Duty requires us to abstain from indulgences which may lead others to 
sin. It is for us who have obtained the knowledge to preach it by example as 
well as by word. Let us " who are of the day he sober, putting on the breastplate 
of faith and love." Let us not live in stupidity, unmindful of the great truths 
which are every day presenting themselves to our view. Let no uncertain sound 
be given to this Gospel trumpet. Let us not be led to believe that the man who 
has the capacity to drink, and not show it either by conversation or other outward 
appearance, is any less free from sin in God's sight than the one who cannot 
drink without plainly showing its accursed effects. " God is not mocked." His 
eye can see these things, though they may be hidden from the eyes of the world. 
He will not look upon sin in any form with the least allowance. We should by 
our example try to strengthen our weaker brother by denying ourselves in every 
way that sve can. Our object in trying to live blameless before men should not 
be for the sake of merely our own selves, but for the good such a life exerts. Oh, 
how pleasing in God's sight it will be for the rran or woman who for Christ's 
sake abstains from these indulgences. No one should dare to take the risk in 
doing anything upon which he cannot ask Gods blessing. He who doubts the 
lawfulness of anything, and yet does it, when there is no doubt about the lawful- 
ness of abstaining from it, is condemned as guilty of sin. ''We then who are 
strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves." 



ABSTAIN FOR THY BROTHER'S SAKE. 117 

If we are not satisfied as to the right of our using tobacco, and especially 
after having heard the personal danger of such use from the lips of those who 
have returned to drink from the use of tobacco — that it has proved the cause of 
their falling — should we dare to trifle with it ? God forbid ! Again, have we a 
right to take that which we have consecrated to the service of our Master and 
burn it up ? Are we honest Christians when we take that which does not belong 
to us and use it for our own selfish desires, when perhaps at that very moment 
some poor woman or orphan child may be suffering for bread." Or again, have 
any of you a right to use your money for tobacco after going from this Home 
owing for your board while you were here ': How can we satisfy our consciences 
while doing these things? Many a promise like this has been made in the Home 
(when it has been our privilege take the poor sufferer into the Home from the 
street). " I will, if ever able, pay for my board.*' Has any such person the right 
to indulge in his so-called innocent luxuries until he has liquidated such a debt? 

Oh, let each one of us strive to live more like the apostle Paul. ••Wherefore,'' 
he says, "if meat make thy brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world 
standeth, lest I make my brother to offend." •• Let each one please his neighbor 
for his good to edification." For even Christ pleased not Himself, but as it is 
written, " the reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me." 




118 SWEPT AND GARNISHED 

(Lukexi.: 21-27.) 

The following is the lesson referred to in the sketch of George W 
Erambert, published in the "Obituary Notices/' and which led that poor 
soul to at last know and feel the wonderful grace and boundless efficacy 
of Christ's salvation. 

Many hours have I passed since I entered upon the Christian work of this 
Home, pondering over one of the most pertinent of questions. Many times have I 
asked the question of those much more advanced in the Christian life than myself, 
but invariably have I received an evasive answer. "Tell me, if you can.'' has 
been my question, "how it is so many fall back into their old sinful lives, who 
gave such apparently unmistakable evidence of a new life commenced — of being 
" born again?" Sometimes for weeks, yes. for months, the great change will be 
apparent to all, and even the ungodly begin to say, " Yes, of a truth there is 
power to transform in this religion ," when perhaps, even the unbeliever's heart 
has begun to ask the question of himself, ' ' Why do I delay longer r Why procras- 
tinate ? Why not now secure to myself this saving power?" Lo, and behold ! in 
a moment, in the words I have read you, lie, the one on whom all eyes have been 
fixed, and perhaps the destinies of so many have been placed, " taketh to him 
seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there ; 
and the last state of that man is worse than the first." 

Why this state of affairs ? How can these things be ? Is there no balm in 
Gilead ? Is there no physician there ? Will not God's grace keep as well as save 
for a time ? Oh ! blessed be His holy name ! yes ; ten thousand times yes ! shall 
be the reply. God not only saves, but he keeps to the very uttermo t all, yes, all. 
I want to emphasize that little word, all. In Hebrews viii. ch., 10 v., you will 
find these words: "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of 
Israel, after those days, saith the Lord ; I wiil put My laws into their mind, and 
write them in their hearts, and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a 
people, and they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his 
brother, saying know the Lord ; for all shall know Me from the least to the 
greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins : and their 
iniquities will I remember no more," 

A covenant God has entered into, and His is a sure covenant. And mind 
you, it is entered into only with the house of Israel ; and if we are members of 
that household, God's word for it, it can never be broken. 

Now, once more I ask the question, How is it that so lnany fall hack again 
into their old sinful lives, after giving such unmistakable evidences of a change 
of heart? It is now no longer a mystery; it is solved, and I think for the first 



SWEPT AND GARNISHED. 119 

time I know what ray Master intended I should know, clearly. In His covenant 
He says, "I will write my law in their hearts." This being done, pod's grace 
promised is made complete, for the judgments and affections together command 
the man. In reading a book a short time since, upon this subject, the whole 
thing appeared in clearness as does the noonday sun. 

The judgment alone may at times be convinced in an unregenerated person. 
if not of the infinite excellence of God's law. yet he may be convinced of the folly 
and danger of opposition to it : and the effect of this, under favorable circum- 
stances, such for instance as being in this Home, sitting daily under its teachings. 
a very considerable reformation may take place, insomuch that he may be led to 
say. •• I feel a great change." The desire for bad habits, bad company, and the 
outward conduct in many particulars may be greatly changed, and will lead the 
man to say. " My desires for intoxicating liquors and tobacco are aU gone.'* Satan 
may leave a person under such circumstances, and go out for a season, and that 
man's house may have been swept and garnished, as I have read to you from 
God's Word, and in all sincerity the man may have been led to -ay. "I know I 
am safe." when the fact is that, although the house may have been swept and 
garnished, it has been all the time empty. And as you will see. (rod's grace never 
having occupied it. Satan is at liberty to return and occupy it whenever he 
pleases. So when its surroundings change we find the affections are yet upon 
sin. and thus sooner or later the soul is drawn into bin against its own best judg- 
ment and clearest dictates of conscience. Here we see the deception of our 
hearts. Honest in every purpose, yet failing to grasp the great truths of God's 
law. For let me ask you. my brother. What is God's law ? Thou shalt love. Do 
we? Is there a pleasure and a liberty in the service of God ? Do we take pleasure 
in his commands? Are they at all grievous to us ? If they are. let us suspect our 
religion. Let us suspect our interest in the grace of this covenant. 

Religion pure is the delight of God's service. Religion is the love of God. 
The obedience of the true believer is an obedience not of constraint,, but of free 
and heartv choice. 



^ 



ce — s§ — g) -i » ■ 



120 RULES OF THE N. Y. CHRISTIAN HOME. 

First, — No drug or medicine of any description shall be brought into 
the house, or used by any member, without the knowledge and consent of 
the Manager. 

Second. — All members are expected to remain in the Home until, in 
the judgment of the Manager, they are fitted to go forth. 

Third. — Each member is expected to aid cheerfully in this work of 
reformation by courteous deportment, cleanly habits, and a willing acqui- 
escence in rendering such service as he may be called upon to give, thus 
tending to make this a happy home. 

Fourth. — Unbecoming language and heated discussions on religious 
or political subjects, that may lead to strife or dissentions, cannot be al- 
lowed, and all allusions to the past life of sin are strictly forbidden. 

Fifth. — Meals will be served at regular hours. Regularity and punctu- 
ality are absolutely required of all members. 

Sixth. — Members of the Home are required to be present at the regu- 
lar evening services ; also at the morning and afternoon meetings and 
evening prayers. 

Seventh. — The use of tobacco is strictly prohibited. 

Eighth. — Every member of the Home is expected to take a bath once 
a week, for which extra towels are furnished. 

Ninth. — Members guilty of drinking, using tobacco, or bringing liquor 
into the Home, shall be summarily dealt with, as this is so gross a viola- 
tion of obligation and honor that it cannot be overlooked. Others know- 
ing of such conduct, and not reporting the same to the Manager, become 
parties to the wrong, and cannot expect to enjoy the confidence of the 
management. 

Tenth. — While a system of petty watching and of making complaints 
about trifling matters is deprecated, justice to the interests of the Home 
demands that any grave offence or violation of rules shall be brought to 
the attention of the Manager. 

Eleventh. — All members are expected to be ready to retire at the hour 
designated, in order that the doors may be closed, lights extinguished, 
and the house quiet by said time, that those desiring repose may not be 
disturbed. And after retiring to their rooms, conversation is strictly pro- 
hibited. 



ACT OF INCORPORATION. 



ACT OF RE-INCORPORATION, 



CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS. 



During the past year we petitioned the Legislature to make certain 
material modifications in the above subjects of legislation. It was our 
hope to have had these changes ready for publication before this book 
went to press ; but as the matter has been delayed at the Capitol, we 
find it necessary to request that anyone desiring information in connection 
with the actual legal status of The New York Christian Home, would 
please apply for the same to the Resident Manager. 



*■ 




t*& 






CONTENTS- 



Frontispiece [Mr. Bunting.] 

Dedication 

page 

Preface 5 

ORIGIN OF THE WORK 7-14 

My own Conversion 7 

Rev. Dr. Tyng Lends Assistance 8 

God sends Wm. E. Dodge 9 

Our First Meeting 10 

First Public Appeal 11 

Securing a Location : 12 

The Home Opened 13 

Photo-Engraving of old Home = 13 

OBJECT AND PLAN OF WORK 14 22 

The Gospel Remedy 14 

God's hand with us 15 

Helping One Another 16 

Drunkenness not Hereditary 17 

Conditions of Admission 18 

Looking to Jesus only • 19 

Old Friends Remembered [Wm. T. Booth and others] 20 

Words of Arthur W . Parsons 21 

A Source of Public Economy 2*2 

THE NEW HOME 23-32 

Photo-Engraving of New Home 23 

New Quarters Opened . 23 

The Building Fund 24 

Mr . Dodge's Sainted Memory 25 

Generous to the last 26 

His Loss Mourned 28 

Photo- Engraving of the late Wm. E . Dodge 38 

Steadfast and Tireless Workers. [Rev. D. Stuart Dodge, Caleb B. Knevals and others 29. 30 

List of Officers and Directors 31 , 32 

FRUITS OF THE WORK 33-42 

Converting a Scoffer 33 

" The Gospel Temperance Salesman " 34 

A Marvellous Conversion 35 

Rev. Dr. J. M. King speaks 30 

Outsiders Brought to Jesus 37 

Accepting salvation 38 

A Morphine slave Redeemed 39 

Physically and Spiritually Transformed 40 

Dr. H. C. Houghton's Views 41 

FACTS FOR CHRISTIAN THINKERS ; 42-87 

The Drunkard Needs Sympathy 42 

A National Influence 43 

The Bible Our Text-book 44 

Tobacco a Snare 45 

Tobacco Habit Involves Drinking Habit 46 



PAGE 

FACTS FOR CHRISTIAN THINKERS 42-87 

Telling Testimonies 47 

Steadfast for Years 48 

Confessing Christ 49 

Workers Wanted 50 

Appeal to Christian Women. 51 

A Tribute to Mrs. Bunting 52 

Evils of Moderate Drinking 53 

Tippling in Christian Homes 54 

The High License Fallacy.— No Compromise with Satan 55, 56 

License Crime, and Ruin Your Boy 57 

Suppress it LTtterly 58 

Rum the Common Enemy.— The Rumseller Plunders the Home 59, 60 

Rum-selling a Crime 61 

It is Our National Sin 62 

Woe unto Mighty Drinkers 63 

The Drunkard's Terrible Appetite 64 

Bartering All for Rum.— Soul and Body for Gin 65, 66 

The Morphine or Opium Habit 67 

' Literally Created by a physician " 68 

Mendacious and Dishonorable 69 

How to Cure a Morphine Fiend 70 

The Cocaine Habit.— Its Awful, Deadening Slavery 71, 72 

The Chloral Habit 73 

A Stay Here Nourishes the Soul 74 

11 A Hard Saying ; Who Can Hear It ?" 75 

The Spirit Quickeneth 76 

To Friends of the Intemperate ... 77 

A Monument of Mercy 78 

Photo Engraving of J. L. Pulis 79 

My Co-worker Speaks 79 

Describing Our Spiritual Work 80 

Can the Drunkard be Saved ? 81 

Mr. Pulis on the Tobacco Habit 82 

God's Keeping Power 84 

How the Drunkard is Saved 85 

A Consecrated Will 86 

Visit Us and See 87 

SUPPLEMENTARY MATTER 88-124 

Statistical Tables : 88 

Letters from Former Members 89 

Anti-Tobacco Items 100 

Bequests : : 103 

Yanderbilt Fund [a munificent legacy] 103 

Acknowledging Cornelius Yanderbilt' s Kindness : 104 

Memorial Fund 104 

( )bituary Notices 105 

Newspaper Notices Ill 

Abstain for thy brother's Sake [a " Home " lesson] 116 

Swept and Garnished [another ** Home " lesson] 118 

Rules, By-laws and Constitution, Act of Incorporation, &c . . &c- . ,-, 120, 121 



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